title: The course of alcoholism. Long-term prognosis in different types.
abstract: The disease concept of alcoholism was first introduced into the medical literature by Magnus Huss in 1984. Since that time many authors have attempted to define therapy-related sub-groups of chronic alcoholics but have been unsuccessful until now because alcoholism represents a complex development and becomes apparent in various clinical pictures. As the method of cross-sectional investigations does not seem to be able to produce reliable results, we performed a prospective long-term study of 444 alcoholics. The methodological claims in literature were taken into consideration like selection criteria, programmes and goals of therapy, follow-up rate and time, etc. Careful observation of the pertinent parts of the pathogenetic pathway leading to chronic alcoholism enabled the authors to establish 4 sub-groups of alcoholics relevant for treatment.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric University, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: O M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Lesch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dietzel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Musalek
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zeiler
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000145:classification* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies