title: Clinical correlates of desire for treatment for current alcohol dependence among patients with a primary psychiatric disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rates of treatment-seeking for alcohol use disorders are notably low. To elucidate the clinical correlates of treatment-seeking for alcoholism, this study compared patients with current alcohol dependence and a primary psychiatric diagnosis who endorsed a desire for alcoholism treatment to patients who refused treatment or who were unsure.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 131 (54 females) psychiatric outpatients with current alcohol dependence completed an intake assessment at a large hospital-based psychiatric clinic and at the end of the intake were asked whether they would like to receive treatment for alcohol problems.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with alcohol-dependent patients who refused treatment for alcoholism or who were unsure (n=46), patients who expressed a desire for treatment (n=85) were older, were more likely to be female, reported higher levels of social impairments, and were more likely to endorse the following alcohol dependence symptoms: (i) multiple unsuccessful efforts or persistent desire to stop or cut down on their drinking; and (ii) drinking more than intended.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Approximately, 35% of patients who met current DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence reported no interest (or were unsure) in alcoholism treatment despite being engaged in treatment-seeking for another psychiatric disorder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings extend previous epidemiological studies documenting treatment-seeking patterns for alcoholism by identifying clinical features associated with interest in treatment for this disorder among psychiatric outpatients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563, USA. lararay@psych.ucla.edu
authors.forename: Lara A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Eliza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chelminski
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D016312:Treatment Refusal; D055815:Young Adult