Relationshipof Family History, Antisocial Personality Disorder and Personality Traits in Young Men at Risk for Alcoholism* MICHIE N. HESSELBROCK, PH.D.,ANDVICTOR M. HESSELBROCK, PH.D.* Schoolof Social Work, Universityof Connecticut,WestHartford, Connecticut06117

ABSTRACT. Studiesexaminingpossiblerisk factorsfor the developmentof alcoholismhave focusedrecentlyon a variety of personality factors, including those associatedwith risk-taking behaviors. Alcohol-seeking behaviorleadingto the abuseof alcoholmay be associatedwith a variety of risk-takingbehaviorsthat derive from certain personalitytraits.Further,thereis evidencethat personalitytraits are transmittedacrossgenerations.This studyexaminedthe relationship of a family historyof alcoholism,antisocialpersonalitydisorder (ASP) and alcoholuse to severalpersonalitytraits includingthe TridimensionalPersonalityQuestionnaire (TPQ) in a sample(N = 91)

of nonalcoholic,youngmale volunteers.The men with ASP scored higherthan the non-ASPmen on the NoveltySeekingScaleof the TPQ, but not on the Harm Avoidanceor RewardDependencesubscales.In addition, ASP men scoredhigherthan non-ASP men on a measureof impulsivityand tendedto scorehigher on measuresof sensationseeking,psychopathyand monotonyavoidance.A family historyof alcoholismdid not differentiatethe youngmen on any of the childhoodbehaviorproblems,personalitymeasuresor alcoholrelated variables. (J. Stud. Alcohol 53: 619-625, 1992)

NVESTIGATIONS ofthepropensity forthedevelop- Severalstudiesof adolescentproblemdrinkershave iden-

ment of alcoholismhaverecentlyfocusedon a variety of childhoodbehaviorproblemsand personalitytraits as

tified toleranceof devianceand relatedpersonalitytraits (e.g., waywardness,distrust,aggressivesocialility,cyni-

possiblerisk factors for alcoholism.Childhood behavior problems (e.g., hyperactivity,attention deficit disorder and conductproblems)have been found to be associated

cism) as correlates,as well as predictors,of acutealcohol problemsin adolescence.An associationwas found between alcohol and other substanceuse and low IQ scores and mental and physicalhealth problems(Kandel et al., 1988; Marston et al., 1988). Tarter (1988) found the traits of emotionalexcitability,dominanceand aggressiveness to be directly related to subsequentsubstancemisuse. Fur-

with the risk for alcoholism (Hesselbrock, 1986; Hesselbrock et al., 1984, Tarter, 1988). Further, some alcoholics

who reported a high number of behaviorproblemshave been found to be more seriouslyaffectedby alcoholism than alcoholics who reported fewer problems in their childhood (Tarter et al., 1977). These childhood behavior

problemshavealso beenfrequentlyfoundamongchildren of alcoholics (Tarter, 1988). However, it is not clear

whether thesechildhoodbehaviorproblemsare specific predictorsof alcoholismonly. Interesthas recentlybeenrenewedin the studyof personalitytraits in relation to the developmentof alcoholism. Alcohol-seekingbehaviormay be associatedwith a variety of risk-takingbehaviors(e.g., impulsivity,etc.). Further,there is evidencethat personalitytraits are transmitted throughgenerations(Plomin, 1990; Tarter, 1988).

ther,high levelsof somaticanxiety,psychicanxiety,irritabilityand impulsiveness are reportedlyrelatedto heavy alcoholuse(Schallingand Edman, 1986). Similarfindingshavebeenreportedfrom longitudinal studiesof adolescentmales who later developedalcoholism. McCord and McCord (1960) found that delinquent boyswho later becamealcoholicstendedto be overly active, aggressiveand sadisticin childhood.Robins(1966) examineda variety of problembehaviorsin childhoodand

Received:February11, 1991. Revision:May 15, 1991. *This study was supportedby National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholismgrant3P50AA035105,the Centerfor the Studyof Alcoholism and by a faculty researchgrant from SouthernConnecticutState University,Farmington,Conn., to M. Hesselbrock.

*VictorM. Hesselbrock iswiththeDepartment of Psychiatry, University of ConnecticutHealth Center,Farmington,Conn. 619

foundthat antisocialbehaviorwas a distinguishing characteristicamongchild guidanceclinic childrenwho later becamealcoholic.Similar personalitypatternshave been identified in general population surveys of problem drinking. The Oakland Growth Study found that two typesof behaviorwere associated with boyswho later became problemdrinkers(Jones,1968). One type included anomic extrovertscharacterizedby emotionality,crying easily,angeredeasilyandexcessive worrying.The second type was composedof personswho were unsettledunder controllersand characterizedby extrapunitiveness, irrita-

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bility and hostility.Cahalanand Room (1974), in a retrospectivestudyof problemdrinkersdrawnfrom the general population,identified youthful rashness,"hell-raising" and unhappiness as early predictorsof adult drinking problems.These studiessuggestthat personalityfactors may influencethe initiation of alcoholuse as well as the course of alcoholism.

While certain personalitycharacteristics may influence alcoholusein youngadulthood,alcoholusedoesnot necessarilylead to alcoholism.On the otherhand, not all alcoholicsmay exhibitproblematicpersonalitytraits. A 32year follow-upstudyof childrenwith variousrisk factors for poor adult outcomehas identifiedseveralpersonality characteristics that appearto be protectiveagainstalcoholism (Werner, 1985). Good adult adjustmentswere associatedwith dispositionalattributes, internal locus of control,communicationskills and averageor higherintelligence. However, certain personalityfactorsassociated with alcoholismhavealsobeenfoundto be moreprevalent in sons of alcoholic fathers than in sons of nonalcoholic

fathers.Emotional immaturity, low frustrationtolerance, moodiness,hot temper, hypersensitivityand insecurity were all associatedwith beinga sonof an alcoholicfather (Aronson and Gilbert, 1963; Goodwin et al., 1975). The predictabilityof childhoodpersonalitytraits(at 1011 years of age) was investigatedby Cloningerand his colleagues(1988) in a longitudinal study of Swedish school children. Three uncorrelatedpersonalitydimensions(novelty-seeking, harm avoidanceandrewarddependence)thoughtto be heritablewere examined.Cloninger et al. (1988) found that high novelty-seekingand low harm avoidancewere highly predictiveof young adulthood alcohol abuse in this sample. Their findings are based on 30 of the 233 boys who were later registered with the Swedish TemperanceBoard through age 27. Cloningeret al. (1988), however,cautionthat childhood personalitycharacteristics may not fully predict alcohol abusein young adults.Valliant (1983) has suggestedthat personalitydisordersmay not contributeto the risk for alcoholism,but developas a consequence of alcoholabuse. The genetictransmissibilityof alcoholismand certain personalitytraitshave beenlinked to differenttypesof alcoholism.Cloningerand colleagues(1987) havesuggested two typesof alcoholismbasedon differencesin alcoholrelatedsymptoms,patternsof transmission and personality characteristicsusing data derived from a crossfosteringstudyof Swedishadoptees.Type I alcoholicsare identifiedas being more responsiveto environmentalinfluence, as lesslikely to havefamilial alcoholism,as having relativelymild alcohol-relatedproblemsand as having an age of onsetof alcoholismafter the age of 25. Type I alcoholicsare characterizedas being dependenton social approval(high rewarddependence), cautious(high harm avoidance)and prefer non-risk-takingsituations(low novelty seeking).On the other hand, Type II alcoholismis characterizedas being highly associatedwith familial al-

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coholism, having severe and violence-relatedalcohol problemsand other drug use, and as having an onsetof alcoholproblemsbefore25 yearsof age. Type II alcoholism is thoughtto be characterizedby low reward dependence,low harm avoidanceand high noveltyseeking. The usefulnessof novelty seeking,harm avoidanceand reward dependencefor predictingalcohol-relatedproblems among American men has not yet been substantiated. Schuckitet al. (1990) examinedthese personality traits in a sampleof nonalcoholicyoung men whosefathershad either severealcohol-relatedproblemsor had no family history of alcoholism.No significantrelationship betweenthe personalitytraitsproposedby Cloningeret al. (1987) and the subjects'drinking patternsor family history of alcoholismwere found. Schuckitet al. (1990) suggest that the Type II alcoholicmay representa separate disorder:antisocialpersonalitydisorder.They relate their negativeresultsto the relative absenceof antisocialpersonalitydisorderin their subjectsand their fathers.Many inconsistencies betweenthe Type I andTypeII continuum and personality characteristicsamong alcoholics have beennotedby others(cf., yon Knorring et al., 1988). The presentstudyexaminedseveralpersonalitytraits, includingthose proposedby Cloninger et al. (1986), in relationto two risk factors(a family historyof alcoholism and antisocialpersonalitydisorder)and alcoholconsumption amongnonalcoholicyoungmen. The studydesignextends the work of Schuckitet al. (1990) by considering antisocialpersonalitydisorder,in additionto a family history of alcoholism,as a possiblerisk factor. Method

The sampleof youngmen (N = 91) was recruitedfrom the communityusinga varietyof methodsincludingadvertisementsin local newspapers,radio and televisionspots and fliers postedat severalcollege campuses.Subjects were initially screenedby telephonefor the absenceof alcohol and drug problems, medical, neurological,and psychologicalproblemsand the use of psychoactiveprescription medications.Subjectswith a history of head trauma that resulted in loss of consciousness for longer than 24 hours or treatment for a concussion were also ex-

cluded.Subjectswho passedthis screeninginterviewwere then invited

to the medical

center for a more extensive

evaluation.Includedin the study samplewere males between the agesof 21 and 25 yearsold who had no history of alcoholor substance dependence nor a currentdiagnosis of alcohol or substanceabuse accordingto the DSM-III criteria(AmericanPsychiatricAssociation,1980).Further, only right handdominantmen were acceptedas subjects sincethey alsoparticipatedin EEG and neuropsychological evaluationsas additionalaspectsof the study. Subjectswere recruitedto meet two criteria: the presence/absence of a family historyof alcoholismand a personaldiagnosisof antisocialpersonalitydisorder(ASP). A

HESSELBROCK

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family historypositive(FH+) for alcoholismwas defined as havingeither a historyof paternalalcoholismor having a siblingin additionto a second-degree biologicalrelative affected with alcoholism. Any subject whose biological motherhad a historyof alcoholabuseor dependencewas excludedfrom study.On the other hand, a family history negative(FH-) for alcoholismwas definedas the absence of alcoholismin both the first- and second-degree biological relativesof the subject. The diagnosisof the ASP was made accordingto the DSM-III criteria. However, the diagnosisof ASP was modified to excludethe criterion items that were present only in the contextof alcoholand/orsubstance use (e.g., DWI and disorderlyconduct). The assessment battery includedthe taking of a psychiatric historyusinga structureddiagnosticinterviewschedule (the NIMH-DIS VersionIll-A) (Robinset al., 1981) by a trained researchtechnician. A structuredfamily history interview developedby Andreasenet al. (1977) was used to obtain psychiatricinformationabouteach subject'sbiologicalfirst- and second-degree relatives.Psychiatricdiagnoseswere made accordingto the DSM-III (American PsychiatricAssociation,1980)criteria for the subjectand accordingto the FH-RDC for their family members.The interviewer also completed the Global Assessmentof FunctioningScale (GAF) (American PsychiatricAssociation, DSM-III, 1980), a generalmeasureof mental health/ illness, at the end of the interview for each subject. In addition, each subjectcompleteda variety of other measuresincludingan alcoholand drug use questionnaire

that assessed the quantityand frequencyof differenttypes of beverage ethanol consumedin the past 6 months, and the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) (Seizer, 1971). The entire study was composedof three parts: an exten-

sive psychological,psychiatric, neuropsychological assessment;a study of the subject'spsychophysiological responsesto a placebo and ethanol challenge;and an electrophysiological/event-related potential study. At the completionof the entire study, subjectswere paid $100 for their participation.All procedures were fully explained to each subjectand assurances of confidentialitygiven regardingthe informationthat they provided.Informedconsent was obtained from each subject prior to his participationin the study. As part of his evaluation,childhoodbehaviorproblems and severalpersonalitymeasureswere completedby each subject.Theseincluded: ß Childhood Problem Behavior Checklist (Wender, 1971). The instrument

contains

67 items that assess the occurrence

of

problem behaviorsprior to 12 years of age. This versionincludes items that are consistent with the DSM-III

criteria

for

the diagnosisof childhoodattentiondeficit disorderand conduct disorder.Four scaleswere createdthat describethe problems of inattention, impulsivity and conduct problems (Hesselbrock, 1986).

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ß The Tri-DimensionalPersonality Questionnaire(Cloninger, 1986). This 100-itemself-reporttrue/falsequestionnaire assessesthe responsepatternsor traits characteristicof each of threebasicdimensions(noveltyseeking,harm avoidance,reward dependence)as well as the six possiblecombinations of traits.

ß KarolinskaScalesof Personality(Schallingand Edman, 1986). This personalityinventoryexaminesimpulsivity, monotony avoidance,somaticanxiety,psychicanxiety,musculartension and socialdesirability.Itemsare scoredon a 4-point scale. ß Life Orientation Test (Sheier and Carver, 1985). The LOT, con-

sistingof 12 itemsincludingfour filler items,assesses dispositional optimism or the generalized expectation for the occurrenceof good rather than bad outcomes. ß RosenbergSelf-EsteemInventory (Rosenberg,1965). A 10item generalmeasureof self-esteembasedon a generalfavorable or unfavorableglobal self-attitude. ß PsychopathicState Inventory (Haertzen et al., 1980). A 90item true/false

scale that examines

six rational

scales related

to the psychopathicstate: impulsivity, egocentricity,needs, hypophoria,sociopathy,high (search for "highs"), and a total score.

ß ZuckermanSensationSeekingScale V (Zuckerman, 1979). A 40-item questionnairethat measuresfour traits: thrill/adventure seeking,experienceseeking, disinhibitionand boredomsusceptibility. The total of the four subscalescomposesthe sensation-seeking score. Results

Descriptionof sample

A sampleof 91 youngmen, rangingin age from 21 to 25 yearsold, respondedto the advertisementand participated in the study. These men were divided into four groupsaccordingto the presence/absence of a family history of alcoholismand a personalhistoryof antisocialpersonality disorder. Twenty-eight men (n = 28) were negativeon both family history and ASP (FH-/ASP-), 19 men were negative on family history but positive on ASP (FH-/ASP+), 29 men were positiveon family history but negativeon ASP (FH+/ASP-) and 15 men were positiveon both family history and ASP (FH+/ASP+). The averageage of subjectsin the four groupswas similar, rangingfrom 22.7 to 23.7 years.The level of educational achievementwas also similar among three of the groups with the mean number of years of school completed rangingfrom 15.2 to 15.5 years.The FH+/ASP+ group reported the lowest number of years of educational achievement(13.9 years). See Table 1. Alcohol useand history

The quantityand frequencyof alcoholconsumptionby beveragetype was assessed for the 6-month period prior to assessment. The highestlevel of alcoholconsumption during the previous6 monthswas reportedby the FH-/ ASP+ group with a mean (-+ SD) of 67.4-+ 46.63

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JOURNAL OF STUDIES ON ALCOHOL

TABLE1. Demographyand alcoholuse

1992

ductproblems.The relationshipof family historyandASP to each of these scales is shown in Table 2. A main effect

Group FI-I ASP-

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FH ASP+

FH + ASP-

FH + ASP+

n

28

19

29

15

Age(years) Education(years)

22.9 15.5

23.7 15.3

22.7 15.2

22.9 13.9

Alcohol uselast 6 mos(oz)

52.5

67.4

51.9

63.5

Agefirstdrink(years) Ageregulardrink(years)

14.8 15.7

12.7 15.6

13.7 15.5

12.2' 12.7

MAST score

3.0

5.6

4.1

5.0

GAF rating

84.1

77.3

83.1

78.7*

*p < .05, ASP main effect.

ouncesof absoluteethanol, followed by the FH+/ASP+

groupwith a meanof 63.5 - 35.99 ounces.No differencesin averagedailyconsumption werefoundin relation to eitherfamilyhistoryfor alcoholism (F = .314, 1/88df, p = NS) or in relation to ASP (F = 1.92, 1/88 df, p = NS). No Family History x ASP effect was found. However,the ASP men (regardlessof family history) re-

ported consumingtheir first drink at an earlier age (mean = 12.5-+ 2.65 years) comparedto the non-ASP men (mean = 14.2 -+ 2.96) (F = 7.62, 1/88 df, p < .007). No differencesin age of consumingtheir first drink of alcoholwere found in relation to a family history for alcoholism (F = 2.01, 1/88 df, p = NS), nor was a Family History x ASP interactionfound. In terms of the reportedage that regulardrinkingof alcoholbegan,no differenceswere foundfor either main effects or their interaction.FH+ subjectsbegan regular drinking at 14.6 -+ 6.13 yearscomparedto 15.5 - 6.50 years for FH- subjects.ASP+ subjectsbegan regular drinking at 14.33 -+ 6.12 yearsof age comparedto 15.4 - 6.12 yearsfor ASP subjects. ASP subjectstendedto reporthigherMAST scoresthan the non-ASP men (mean = 5.37 - 4.81 for ASP+ vs 3.56-+ 3.14 for ASP-; F = 3.68, 1/88 df, p < .06). Men with a family historypositivefor alcoholismscored higheron the MAST thanthe familyhistorynegativemen (4.38 -+ 4.95 and4.02 -+ 4.68, respectively),but this differencewas not significant(F = .329, 1/88 df, p -- NS). No Family History x ASP interactionwas found. The Global Assessmentof Functioning(GAF) ratings indicatedthat subjectsin the samplewere generallyfunctioning at a high level with few symptomspresent.However, the ASP men receivedsomewhatlower ratingsthan the non-ASP men (means = 77.79 - 16.51 vs 83.59 -+

was found for ASP (but not for family history of alcoholism) on each of the four problem areas: hyperactivity (F = 8.6, 1/88 df, p < .004), inattention(F = 4.4, 1/88 df, p < .04), impulsivity(F = 4.2, 1/88 df, p < .04) and

conductproblems(F = 5.6, 1/88 df, p < .02). The ASP men, regardlessof their family historyof alcoholism,reporteda highernumberof childhoodbehaviorsrelatedto hyperactivity,inattention,impulsivityand conductproblems than non-ASP men. FH+ and FH-

coholism were found on these four scales.

TPQ-TridimensionalPersonality Questionnaire

The relationshipof a family historyof alcoholismand ASP to the TPQ subscalesof Novelty Seeking, Harm Avoidanceand RewardDependenceare presentedin Table 3. An ASP effect was found on the Novelty Seekingscale (F = 8.5, 1/88 df, p < .005) and on severalof the Novelty Seekingsubscales.No differencesdue to ASP were foundfor any of the Harm Avoidanceand RewardDependencesubscales.No main effect for a family history of alcoholism and no ASP x Family History interactions werefoundon any of the TPQ subscales. Youngmen with a diagnosisof ASP scoredmuchhigheron all of the subscalesof the Novelty Seekingscale(particularly"disorderly" and "excitable/fickle")regardlessof their family historyfor alcoholism. Other personalityfeatures

The relationshipof family history for alcoholismand ASP to the Psychopathic StateInventory(PSI) scales,the Life OrientationTest, the ZuckermanSensationSeeking Scale (SSV) and the RosenbergSelf-Esteem Scale was also examined(see Table 4). On the PSI, a significant main effect was found in terms of ASP (F = 4.12, 1/88

df, p < .05), with ASP men scoringsignificantlyhigher than non-ASP men (means = 29.76 -+ 13.35 vs 24.82 -+

10.02, respectively).No maineffectfor family historyand no ASP x Family History interactionwas found. TABLE2. Childhoodbehaviorproblems

12.64, respectively; F = 10.23, 1/88 df, p < .002). Neither a main effect for family history for alcoholism,nor a Family History x ASP interactioneffect was found. Childhoodbehaviorproblems

Indicators of childhood problems were assessedin terms of hyperactivity,inattention,impulsivity and con-

(for alcoholism)

menreportedsimilarnumbersof childhoodbehaviorproblems prior to 12 yearsof age acrossthe four areas.No interactioneffectsbetweenASP and family historyfor al-

Group means

Behaviorproblems beforeage 12

FHASP-

FHASP+

Hyperactivity

3.25

Inattention

2. I l

Impulsivity Conductproblems

1.64 1.71

*p < .05, ASP main effect.

FH+ ASP-

FH+ ASP+

4.58

3.86

5.27'

3.28

2.66

3.13'

2.42 4.32

1.72 2.45

2.20* 4.60*

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TABLE5. KarolinskaScale of Personality

TABLE3. TridimensionalPersonalityQuestionnaire

Group means

Group means FH -

FH-

FH +

FH +

ASP-

ASP+

ASP-

ASP+

NoveltySeekingScale Exploratory Disorderly

4.44 3.22

4.42 3.79

4.29 2.93

4.60 4.40*

Excitable/fickle

2.15

3.16

2.36

2.87*

Impulsive

2.70

3.26

3.25

3.73

FH -

FH +

FH +

Scale.scores

ASP-

ASP+

ASP-

ASP+

Somaticanxiety Psychicanxiety

16.89 20.04

17.07 21.59

17.78 20.06

17.00 18.40

Muscular

16.50

17.14

17.89

16.27

1.50 24.25 27.79

1.28 25.33 28.11

.89 24.69 26.59

1.07 26.53* 29.33*, **

tension

FH -

Dramatic/talkative

2.37

2.37

2.57

2.67

Social desirability lmpulsivity Monotonyavoidance

Extravagant

4.22

4.65

4.72

5.38

*p < .05, ASP main effect. **p < . 10, ASP x FH interactioneffect.

Ns Ns Ns Ns

I 2 3 4

= = = =

nsa + nsc nsd nsb +nse + nsf nsl + ns2 + ns3

6.78 2.70 9.87 19.61

7.53 3.26 10.88 26.24

6.88 3.25 10.12 20.36

7.85* 3.73 12.77' 24.77*

Tension

2.67 1.44

2.84 1.42

3.25 2.00

2.33 .80

Shyness Fatigability

1.81 2.44

2.26 2.11

2.50 2.93

1.67 2.67

Sum of scales

8.37

8.63

10.68

7.47

12.15

I 1.21

12.32

I 1.00

7.56 19.63

7.89 19. i I

7.86 20.18

6.80 17.80

Harm Avoidance Scale Pessimism

RewardDependenceScale Socialsensitivity Persistence Sum of scales

*p < .05, ASP main effect.

A trendtowarda significantASP and family historyinteraction

was

found

on

the

Life

Orientation

Test

(F = 3.10, 1/88 df, p < .08) and on the ZuckermanSensation Seeking Scale (F = 3.08, 1/88 df, p < .08). ASP+/FH+ men scoredhigheston boththe Life Orientation Scale and the Zuckerman SensationSeeking Scale comparedto the otherthree groups.

1/88 df, p < .04). Men with a family historypositivefor alcoholismdid scorehigherthan the family historynegative men, but the differenceswere not statistically'significant. No interactionbetweenfamily historyand ASP was foundon the impulsivityscale.In termsof the Monotony Avoidance scale, a main effect for ASP was also found

(F = 4.38, 1/88 df, p < .04) with subjectswith ASP rating themselveshigher than the non-ASP subjects (means= 28.67 -+ 3.18 vs 27.18 + 3.27, respectively). A trend towardsa Family History x ASP interactionwas also noted (F = 2.95, 1/88 df, p < .09). FH+/ASP+ men ratedthemselveshigheron this scalethan subjectsin the other three groupswhile, among ASP- men, FHscoredhigherthan FH+ men. There were no significantmain effects or interactional effectsof family history and ASP on the remainingKSP scalesof somaticanxiety, psychicanxiety, musculartension, or social desirability.

A trend toward a main effect for ASP was also found on

the total SensationSeeking Scale (F = 3.59, 1/88 df, p < .06) with ASP men havinghighervaluesthan nonASP men. No significantmain effectsor interactional effects were found on the RosenbergSelf-EsteemScale. Men in all four groupsscoredsimilarlyon this scale. The relationshipof ASP and family historyfor alcoholism with the subscalesof KarolinskaScalesof Personality (KSP) was examined.Significantmain effectswere found in relation to ASP on the Impulsivity and Monotony Avoidance scales (see Table 5). The ASP men scored

higherthannon-ASPmenon the Impulsivityscalescores (means= 25.88 --- 3.31 vs 24.47 --- 3.08; F = 4.30,

Discussion

This studyexaminedthe relationshipof family history of alcoholism,antisocialpersonalitydisorder(ASP) and alcoholuseto severalpersonalitytraits in youngmen who volunteeredfor the study.DifferencesbetweenASP+ and ASP- young men were found in terms of alcohol use history, indicatorsof childhood behavior problems and severalpersonalitymeasures,while a family history of alcoholismdid not differentiateyoung men on thesevariables. Youngmen diagnosedas having antisocialpersonality disorderaccordingto the DSM-III reportedtaking their first drink at a youngerage and scoredhigheron the MAST

TABLE4. Personalitymeasure Group means

Personality measure

Psychopathic State Inventory(PSI)

FH-

FH-

ASP-

ASP+

ASP-

FH +

FH + ASP+

25.04

30.11

24.62

29.33*

Life Orientation Zuckerman Sensation

34.56

33.32

33.71

36.71'*

SeekingScale(SSV) RosenbergSelf-Esteem

25.08 25.12

25.78 25.50

23.34 24.90

28.00"** 24.50

*p < . 10, ASP maineffect.**p < . 10, ASP x FH interaction effect.

scores than the non-ASP

men. The ASP men also

reporteda highernumberof childhoodbehaviorproblems relatedto hyperactivity,inattention,impulsivityand conduct problemscomparedto the non-ASPsubjects. In terms of TPQ scores,the ASP men scoredhigher than non-ASP men on the Novelty Seekingscale but no differences were found between ASP and non-ASP

men in

terms of the Harm Avoidance and Reward Dependence scales.ASP men scoredhigher than non-ASP men on the Karolinska Scales of Personalityindicating impulsivity. However,in terms of the monotonyavoidancesubscale,a

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family historyby ASP interactionwas found. ASP+/FH+ scoredhigheston the monotonyavoidancescale. Among non-ASP men, FH- subjectsscored higher than FH+ subjects.ASP men also tended to score higher on measuresof life orientation(LOT), psychopathy(PSI) and on the total sensation-seeking score(SSV). The currentstudyaddedan additionalrisk factorfor the developmentof alcoholism:the diagnosisof ASP to the design.The resultsindicatethat ASP, regardlessof family historyof alcoholism,is an importantfactorin describing alcoholuse and personalityfeaturesamongyoung men at risk for the developmentof seriousalcohol-relatedproblems. Our findings are consistentwith other studiesindicating that ASP men can be distinguishedfrom persons with a family history of alcoholismon several different premorbidcharacteristicsand geneticinfluences(Cadoret, 1978; Cadoret et al., 1987; Cloninger and Gottesman, 1987; Foulds and Hassail, 1969; Irwin et al., 1990; Schuc-

kit et al., 1990). The findingsof the currentstudyand a previous study (Hesselbrocket al., 1985) indicate that many traits often ascribedas being due to a family history of alcoholismmay, in fact, be due to ASE The findingsof the currentstudyconfirm the importanceof also assessing ASP in the study of young men with a family history of

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ever,the currentsampledid not differentiatealcoholismin the subjects'fathersin relationto Type I/Type II alcoholism. The FH+ subjectsin the Schuckitet al. (1990) study includedonly men with Type II alcoholicfathers.The findingsof the currentstudyand thoseof Schuckitet al. (1990) suggestthat a family history of alcoholismalone, regardlessof type, does not differentiatealcohol use and personalitycharacteristics amongthe sons. A cautionshouldbe noted,however.The currentstudy sample is not necessarilyrepresentativeof the general population.Subjectswere volunteerswho were recruited via an advertisement.They tendedto be highly educated and were not dependenton alcohol. Those who were already abusingalcoholwere excludedsincethis studyfocusedon the pre-alcoholiccharacteristics of youngmen. However,someof this study'ssubjectsare likely to developalcoholismlater in their lives. Sincemanyalcoholics developalcohol abuseor dependencein their thirties

and forties, only a long-termfollow-upwould provide conclusive evidenceaboutthe relationship of a family history of alcoholism,antisocialpersonalitydisorder,personality traits and alcoholism.

alcoholism.

The resultsof our studypartially confirm the utility of the TPQ proposedby Cloningerand his colleagues(1987, 1988). As predictedby Cloninger'sconceptualization,the youngmen in the current sampleat risk for Type II alcoholism had high scoreson the Novelty Seekingscalebut not on the Harm Avoidance or Reward Dependence scales.However,the youngmen at risk for Type I alcoholism could not be distinguishedon thesethree traits. The failure to confirm Cloninger'shypotheses may be due to differencesin the sample, methodsof data collection or culture. Cloninger et al. (1988) retrospectivelyderived measuresof the personalitytraits scoresfrom teachers'assessments of the child and school records made when the

child was 10 to 11 yearsold. The determinationof alcohol abusewas independently madefrom registrationswith the SwedishTemperanceBoards.The current study assessed Novelty Seeking, Harm Avoidanceand Reward Dependence using the TPQ and alcohol use history at the time of the study via self-reports.Further,the youngmen in the presentstudywere not alcoholic,but at high risk for alcoholism.

The present study's findings are similar to those of Schuckitand his colleagues(1990) who alsofoundno relationshipbetweena family history of alcoholismand the traits assessedby the TPQ in young men at risk for alcoholism. Further, the findings of this study and those of Schuckitet al. (1990) weresimilareventhoughthe samples representtwo differentgeographicalregionsof the United States.The demographic characteristics of the presentsample andthe Schuckitet al. (1990) sampleare similar;how-

1992

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