The gender differential in adjusted associations of alcohol dependence was largest for individuals with externalizing psychopathology only (EO), with an OR of 8.8 for women versus 4.0 for men. This may reflect gender differences in the composition of externalizing psychopathology. Among individuals with EO, the prevalence of ASPD was higher among men (75% versus 48% for women), whereas the prevalence of drug dependence was higher among women (58% versus 32% for men). As adjusted comorbidity rates for alcohol dependence are higher for drug dependence than ASPD (Hasin et al., 2007), this may account for the higher OR for women than men with EO and suggests that a common genetic liability for addiction may more strongly increase the risk for alcohol dependence than do the excessive adolescent drinking and any shared genetic risk associated with ASPD.
