Stability of successful long-term adjustment in alcohol dependence: a follow-up study 15 years after the first long-term follow-up.
From a large consecutive sample (n = 1,312) of hospital-treated alcoholics with multiaxial ratings, 105 were chosen for personal examination two decades after the subjects' first admission (1949-1969) for alcohol problems. To study patterns of successful adjustment, 70 were chosen on the basis of a good social adjustment (health insurance data) at follow-up, whereas the control subjects had been granted a disability pension. The first follow-up was carried through in 1982-1983. In 1998-1999, the same 105 subjects were studied concerning mortality rate and adjustment patterns. In the good social adjustment group, 33% had deceased as compared with 63% in the control group (p < 0.01). Twenty-three out of 44 surviving subjects accepted a personal interview. Favourable adjustment was generally reported as being stable over the follow-up period. Several subjects reported stable non-problem drinking and others a change between abstinent and non-abstinent adjustment patterns.
Nordström
Göran
G
Division of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
Berglund
Mats
M
Frank
Arne
A
D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors