High-risk (HR) families were identified through a proband pair of alcohol dependent sisters. One member of the proband pair was in a substance abuse treatment facility in the Pittsburgh area at the time of recruitment. The study design provided an ultra-high density of alcoholism in the pedigrees from which these offspring were selected. In person structured interviews (Diagnostic Interview Schedule [DIS]) (Robins et al., 1981) of the proband sisters, their spouses, and all available first degree relatives were conducted to determine the presence of axis I psychopathology and AD. Families were excluded if there was presence of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, recurrent major depression, and drug dependence (i.e. drug dependence preceded AD by 1 or more years) among proband sisters and their first degree relatives.
