Interactions between parental history of alcoholism and offspring gender were present in any axis I disorder, any substance use disorder, 4 of the individual axis I disorders (mania, panic disorder, nicotine dependence, alcohol abuse), and schizoid personality disorder (Table 4). These interactions varied based on the gender of the parent, the gender of the offspring, and the particular disorders. The finding of a significant gender-by-paternal history of alcoholism for any Axis I disorder was explained by a stronger association between paternal alcoholism and Axis I pathology in male offspring as compared to female offspring. The disorder showing the most statistically significant contribution related to this effect was mania. However, maternal history of alcoholism was associated with significantly stronger odds of mania in women than in men. Thus, although parental history of alcoholism increased the odds of mania in male and female offspring, in the findings indicate a gender influence of parental alcoholism in association with mania in same-gender parent-offspring pairs.
