Belligerence in alcohol dependence

Alcohol intoxication is frequently associated with acts of interpersonal violence. The present study indicates that a substantial proportion of patients with a primary diagnosis of alcohol dependence do not become violent while drinking. Those who did evidenced a clearly different personality profile, exhibited more problems related to alcohol use, and greater impairment of various cognitive neuropsychological functions. They also tended to have established a pattern of excessive alcohol use at an earlier age. The findings may be explained by a pre-alcoholic vulnerability of a nature which increases the probability of belligerent behavior during intoxication.