Alcoholism treatment outcome studies, 1970-1998. An expanded look at the nature of the research.

We reviewed 701 alcohol treatment outcome studies reported between 1970 and 1998. Examining the nature of the research allows us to characterize this field of study, analyze trends over time, and improve upon this work in the future. For multiple-group studies, the majority of both investigators and participants were male, and participant characteristics were generally inconsistently surveyed and reported. Between the 1970s and the 1990s, research on pharmacological treatments and research conducted in outpatient settings became more common. Additionally, the types of outcome measures assessed varied more widely and were more likely to be continuous and quantifiable.