A follow-up study on alcoholics with and without co-existing affective disorder.
Three-hundred male alcoholics were selected from consecutive admissions to hospital. They were divided into three diagnostic sub-groups: primary alcoholics; alcoholics with unipolar affective disorder; and alcoholics with bipolar affective disorder. After three follow-up interviews over a 2-year period after hospital discharge, the three sub-groups reported differences in frequency of mood change, amount of treatment received, and hospital attendance, although there were no clear-cut differences in items associated with their alcoholism. There were, however, some indications that bipolar patients functioned at a better level during the follow-up period, particularly those who were older, had a previous history of longer periods of abstinence, and maintained more frequent contact with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and their family doctor.
O'Sullivan
K
K
St Patrick's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Rynne
C
C
Miller
J
J
O'Sullivan
S
S
Fitzpatrick
V
V
Hux
M
M
Cooney
J
J
Clare
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000436:Alcoholics Anonymous; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D013695:Temperance