The treatment requests of alcoholics.
Two hundred and thirty-four alcoholic patients at a general hospital outpatient clinic were administered a questionnaire to ascertain their treatment requests. One year later information characterizing the patients and their treatment outcomes was obtained by chart review and therapists' ratings. The alcoholics' treatment requests were similar to those obtained previously with general psychiatric populations. The most frequent requests were for psychological treatments: 'clarification of issues' or 'psychodynamic insight' while requests for administrative help or social intervention were least frequent. Requesting psychological treatments did not significantly predict engaging in psychotherapy or change during therapy. Requesting help with the complications of drinking only and not psychological help predicted early drop out. Medical, administrative and social intervention requests predicted poor improvement in drinking behavior during therapy.
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010358:Patient Participation