title: Age effects on the clinical presentation of alcoholics at a psychiatric hospital.
abstract: Little is known about the effects of age on the clinical presentation of alcoholism in various treatment settings, despite the clinical importance of this factor. This study evaluates the effects of age on the clinical profile of 604 alcoholics who presented for initial evaluation and treatment at a psychiatric hospital. Young alcoholics displayed the most prominent substance use, antisocial behavior, depressive symptoms (including suicidality), and impulsivity. Early middle-aged alcoholics displayed the highest levels of drinking. Elderly alcoholics displayed the highest levels of cognitive dysfunction, although some level of cognitive dysfunction was present among even the youngest alcoholics. These findings confirm and clarify the effects of age on the clinical profile of alcoholics presenting for initial evaluation at a psychiatric hospital.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cornelius
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fabrega
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jones-Barlock
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Salloum
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Ulrich
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mezzich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology