The men were subsequently followed up with semi-structured interviews at T15 (98% of surviving subjects), T20 (97%), T25 (94%), and T30 (an estimated 90%). Evaluations of outcomes used interviews originally based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R (SCID) and modified for additional diagnostic systems using the subsequent Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism (SSAGA) interview (Bucholz et al., 1994; Hesselbrock et al., 1999; Spitzer et al., 1992). Information was extracted at each follow-up regarding the usual and maximum number of standard drinks consumed per occasion during the ~five-year follow-up interval, the number of 22 possible alcohol problems reported to have occurred during that period, and whether the person met criteria for DSM-IV alcohol abuse or dependence during the epoch (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). The problems included the 11 DSM-IIIR and DSM-IV alcohol abuse and dependence items along with non-diagnostic problems such as alcohol-related blackouts and job or marital problems.
