| Figure 2-4 Clinical Characteristics of Early and Late Onset Problem Drinkers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Variable | Early Onset | Late Onset |
| Age at onset | Various, e.g., < 25, 40, 45 | Various, e.g., > 55, 60, 65 |
| Gender | Higher proportion of men than women | Higher proportion of women than men |
| Socioeconomic status | Tends to be lower | Tends to be higher |
| Drinking in response to stressors | Common | Common |
| Family history of alcoholism | More prevalent | Less prevalent |
| Extent and severity of alcohol problems | More psychosocial, legal problems, greater severity | Fewer psychosocial, legal problems, lesser severity |
| Alcohol-related chronic illness (e.g., cirrhosis, pancreatitis, cancers) | More common | Less common |
| Psychiatric comorbidities | Cognitive loss more severe, less reversible | Cognitive loss less severe, more reversible |
| Age-associated medical problems aggravated by alcohol (e.g., hypertension, diabetes mellitus, drug-alcohol interactions) | Common | Common |
| Treatment compliance and outcome | Possibly less compliant; Relapse rates do not vary by age of onset (Atkinson et al., 1990; Blow et al., 1997; Schonfeld and Dupree, 1991) | Possibly more compliant; Relapse rates do not vary by age of onset (Atkinson et al., 1990; Blow et al., 1997; Schonfeld and Dupree, 1991) |
From: Chapter 2 - Alcohol
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