Long-term outcome in 306 males with alcoholism.
The subjects of this study were 306 male alcoholics who lived in Osaka, Japan, and who were initially diagnosed with alcoholism at a psychiatric institution between 1972 and 1983. Follow-up studies were done on three occasions: 1 March 1985 (Time 1), 1 November 1988 (Time 2) and 1 March 1992 (Time 3). We followed up 232 (75.8%) of the 306 male alcoholics. By the end of the study period 110 (35.9%) of the subjects were deceased. Regarding cross-sectional sobriety status, from Time 1 to Time 3 the complete abstinence rate changed from 16.0 to 18.6%, excessive drinking rate was from 13.1 to 9.8%, and controlled drinking rate was from 6.9 to 9.8%. The longitudinal sobriety status of 122 living patients during the 5 years before the close of this study were: rate of stable abstinence, 28.7%; unstable abstinence, 21.3%; controlled drinking, 12.3%; and relapse 37.7%. Such variables as being without public assistance at the time of the initial diagnosis of alcoholism and attending a self-help group soon after the initial treatment were associated with stable abstinence. Age (20-39 years) and receiving outpatient treatment at the time of the initial treatment also emerged as predictors of survival. However, those variables, except attending a self-help group soon after the initial treatment, might merely indicate severity of alcoholism. For improving treatment results, it may be most important to provide a treatment environment within the residential area so that alcoholics may receive treatment at an early stage of alcoholism and attend a self-help group.
Noda
T
T
Osaka Prefectural Mental Health and Welfare Center, Japan. NodaTe@mbox.pref.osaka.jp
Imamichi
H
H
Kawata
A
A
Hirano
K
K
Ando
T
T
Iwata
Y
Y
Yoneda
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D013695:Temperance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome