The P300a and P300b analyses were conducted in a large sample (N=218) of subjects who already possessed a risk factor for vascular disease and neurophysiological impairment -- a previous or current diagnosis of alcohol dependence — and therefore at greater risk than non-alcoholics for achieving a clinically significant level of impairment. The focus on females was inspired by their higher risk for obesity [i.e., 33.2% women vs. 27.6% men: (42)], especially in samples with adequate racial/ethnic minority representation, as well as the female bias in the importance of conduct problems in promoting obesity (43). We acknowledge that limiting the analysis in this manner limits the generality of the findings. However, it does focus the interpretation of the results and provides supporting data for future, larger studies in which many additional grouping factors could be examined.
