Social data, data of drinking behaviour, stress-styles and cortisol concentrations in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were measured in 130 patients with alcohol dependence (35F and 95M) before and after inpatient treatment.

The age of onset alcohol dependence, the amount of alcohol consumption since last 3 months, the responsibility for education from children, living situation, and the practice of positive ore negative stress coping styles were investigated.

Female alcohol dependent patients show a significant higher age of onset for alcohol dependence (p=0.02) and have a significant lower consumption of alcohol in relation to male alcohol dependent patients (p=0.004).

Moreover, female alcohol dependent patients are significant more frequent involved in education of children (p=0.04), and are living significant less alone (p=0.023).

The cortisol levels in plasma and CSF between female and male alcohol dependent patients does not differ. However, female alcoholics show a significant higher score of negative stress-coping styles than male alcoholics (p= 0.023).

There are significant psychosocial differences between female and male alcohol dependent patients. These gender specific differences relating to social stressors and handling with stress may be clinical relevant for treatment and outcome in alcohol-dependent patients.