Methods Participants The study sample comprised 43 LTAA (19 females, mean age = 49.0 years, SE = 0.8), who had abstinence durations ranging between 1.5 and 32.2 years (median = 3.5 years, mean = 7.6 years, SE = 1.2), 31 STAA

(11 females, mean age = 49.1 years, SE = 1.3), with abstinence durations ranging between 6.0 and 14.4 weeks (median = 9.9 weeks, mean = 9.9 weeks, SE = 0.5), and 72 NAC (35 females, mean age = 48.7 years, SE = 0.8). Groups did not differ on age, F(2, 143) = 0.05, P Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical = 0.95, nor on proportion of male and female participants in each group,

χ2(2, N = 146) = 1.52, P = 0.47. Participants were recruited through Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical postings at university campuses, bulletin boards, Craigslist, community and health centers, alcoholic anonymous (AA) meetings, and subject referrals. All alcoholic participants had attended AA sessions and/or other alcohol treatment programs. Inclusion criteria for LTAA were as follows: (1) met lifetime DSM-IV-R (American Psychiatric selleck chemicals Bortezomib Association 2000) criteria for alcohol dependence, (2) Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical did not meet criteria for dependence or abuse of any other drug (other than nicotine or caffeine), and (3) were abstinent from alcohol Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical and other drugs of abuse for at least 18 months. For STAA, the inclusion

criteria were as follows: (1) met lifetime DSM-IV-R and current (within the past 12 months) criteria for alcohol dependence, (2) did not meet criteria for dependence Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical or abuse of any other drug (other than nicotine or caffeine), and (3) were abstinent from alcohol and other drugs of abuse for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 15 weeks. Drug_discovery NAC participants responded to advertisements for light/nondrinkers and met inclusion criteria if they had a lifetime drinking average of less than 30 standard drinks per month, with no periods of drinking more than 60 drinks per month, and no lifetime history of alcohol and substance abuse or dependence (other than nicotine and caffeine). Exclusion criteria for all groups were as follows: (1) lifetime or current diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder using the computerized Diagnostic Interview Schedule (c-DIS) (Bucholz et al. 1991; Levitan et al. 1991; Erdman et al.