Experimental Neurobiology

Table 1Characteristics of participants

Variables	Patients with alcohol dependence (N=21)	Healthy comparison subjects (N=22)	Statistical values
Demographic variables
Age, years	50.6 (8.2)	50.2 (8.1)	t=0.17	df=41	p=0.861
Sex, male/female	18/3	19/3			p=0.645^a
Alcohol use variables
Duration of alcohol use, years	32.1 (11.5)	30.0 (8.7)	t=0.65	df=37	p=0.523
Frequency of alcohol use, times per month	19.4 (8.0)	2.0 (2.2)	t=9.71	df=37	p<0.001
Average alcohol dose, standard drinks^b per time	6.9 (3.6)	2.0 (1.8)	t=5.53	df=37	p<0.001
Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores	22.1 (7.4)	3.8 (3.7)	t=10.06	df=37	p<0.001
Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA) scores	6.8 (8.8)	1.0 (1.1)	t=3.10	df=37	p=0.004
Other clinical variables
Comorbid depression^c	4 (24)	0 (0)			p=0.029^a
Comorbid anxiety^d	11 (65)	3 (14)			p=0.002^a

Data are expressed as mean (standard deviations) or numbers (%).

^aFisher's exact test.

^bOne standard drink contains 14 gram of alcohol.

^cPresence of depression was defined as ≥19 on the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.

^dPresence of anxiety was defined as ≥40 on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.