The Alcoholic Woman: A Literature Review

Abstract

Alcoholic women present unique characteristics of clinical course and family history. A review of studies comparing male and female abusers of alcohol reveals a later age of onset of symptoms in women but comparable age at hospitalization for both. The woman alcoholic also reports more depressive symptoms, with a higher incidence of depressive episodes and suicide attempts. Depression is more common in the female relatives of women alcoholics. The data suggest that alcoholism in women may frequently occur in the presence of an affective disorder. Attention is called to the importance of rigorous criteria of assessment for purposes of research into the etiology, course and treatment of alcoholism.