Alcohol use disorders in Marine Corps personnel: Risk factors, screening variables and DSM-IV diagnosis

The problem. This study addressed the problem of the occurrence of screening variables identified as alcoholic risk factors in a Marine Corps sample. The relationship between screening variables and DSM-IV diagnosis of alcohol use disorders in Marines was also examined.; Method. This retrospective study utilized data obtained from case files of 201 Marine Corps personnel who were evaluated for alcohol use disorders over 27-months at a Marine Corps Joint Drug Alcohol Counseling Center (JDACC). The occurrence of alcoholic risk factors was assessed. Also, risk factor variables in the substance use evaluation portion of the Navy Clinical Package (NCP) were analyzed individually and in combination for predictive significance relative to DSM-IV diagnosis of alcohol use disorders in Marines.; Results. The sample consisted primarily of single, White, male Marines having a mean age of 23.8 years. History of heavy drinking and arrest/police involvement were the most prevalent risk factors. Over one-half of the sample was diagnosed with either alcohol abuse (31.3 percent) or dependence (22.4 percent). Chi-square analysis of risk factor variables across DSM-IV diagnostic categories revealed significant differences between subjects according to occurrence of family history, binge drinking, blackouts and heavy drinking. An ANOVA demonstrated significant differences in assigned diagnoses between subjects based on onset ages of regular drinking and occurrence of alcohol-related problems. The highest magnitudes of odds ratios occurred for binge drinking, heavy drinking and blackouts, followed by alcohol-related police involvement and younger onset age of regular alcohol use. These five risk factors were included in a predictive model of risk for alcohol abuse and dependence and were highly significant in this sample according to a chi-square goodness of fit X{dollar}sp2{dollar}(df = 377) = 320.607, p = 0.984.