Various advertising methods (newspaper advertisements, Internet postings etc.) were used to recruit the study participants. The study comprised of LTAAs and age and gender matched NACs. Each group consisted of 23 females and 25 males aged 35 to 58 (mean = 46.3, SD = 6.8). Inclusion criteria for the LTAA group were meeting DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) criteria for alcohol dependence and being abstinent for at least six months. NAC participants responded to advertisements for light/non-drinkers and were recruited if they did not meet lifetime criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence, had a lifetime drinking average of less than 30 drinks/mo and never drank more than 60 drinks/mo. For a more detailed account of the subject selection methodology and the neuropsychological and clinical assessments administered, the reader is referred to Fein & Chang (2006).
