Inheritance of Alcoholism in Adoptees

Abstract

SummaryAmong 84 adoptees, 18 years of age and older, separated at birth from their biological parents and without further contact with them, alcoholism was found more frequently in those whose relatives included an individual with alcoholism or in whom heavy drinking had been noted. Adoptee alcoholism did not correlate with any other diagnosis in a biological parent.Childhood socialized conduct disorder was significantly higher in those adoptees who later received a diagnosis of alcoholism or suspected alcoholism, and was positively, but not significantly, related to heavy drinking or alcoholism in parents.Age of adoptee, time spent in foster care, age of biological mother at the time of the birth, socio-economic status of adoptive home, psychopathology other than alcoholism in the biological background, and psychiatric or behavioural problems in the adoptive family (parents or sibs) were all unrelated to adult alcoholism in the adoptee.