A four-year follow-up study of male alcoholics: factors affecting the risk of readmission.

This study is based on a consecutive series of 52 male alcoholics who have been followed up for 4 years after inpatient detoxification. The aim was to identify risk factors for readmission for alcohol detoxification. Information was collected individually, and psychiatric status, physiologic conditions at admission, personality profile, platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity level, current psychosocial living conditions, as well as those during childhood/adolescence, and a history of alcohol and drug abuse were comprised. This information was supplemented by register data on hospital admissions covering the period of 4 years before the admission in question to 4 years after it. The main findings of this follow-up study revealed five risk factors for readmission; namely, heavy drinking before admission, a high gamma-glutamyltransferase level at admission, previous somatic care, and a sensation-seeking behavior in combination with a low platelet MAO activity level (odds ratios ranging from 4.2 to 10.2). The second year after admission seemed to be the most critical time for readmission.