Regarding the P3b reduction specifically, we have shown that treatment-naïve actively drinking alcohol-dependent adults show this reduction to a dramatically smaller degree than do treated alcoholics (Fein and Andrew, 2011). Others have shown that the reduction is no longer detectable when internalizing psychiatric comorbidity is taken into account (Hill et al., 1999a), and, further, that P3b amplitude is negatively correlated with history of externalizing behaviors in individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) (Bauer, 2001). Ongoing studies of ‘pure’ alcohol dependence (i.e., studies of individuals who are treatment-naïve, and who are negative for SUDs and are without lifetime psychiatric comorbidity) are critical for advancing our understanding of alcoholism.
