Pointers towards early detection of alcoholism.

In a study of 100 male and 100 female urban Canadian alcoholics, the alcoholism had previously gone undiagnosed in 17 of the men and 31 of the women. Physicians appear to expect the typical alcoholic to be a male social derelict, thus missing the diagnosis in patients from upper socioeconomic groups, particularly women. Diagnostic pointers are given in the hope that this very common problem may be detected more readily by physicians.