Post discharge dropout of alcoholics - a naturalistic study in a general hospital setting.

In a naturalistic longitudinal design 133 consecutive inpatients with alcohol dependence syndrome were followed up for one year following discharge from the hospital. 59 patients (group 1) paid follow up visit at regular intervals whereas 28 subjects (group 2)never returned despite three consecutive postal intimations. Rest of the patient were irregular in follow up. The individuals in group 1 were compared with those in group 2 on various sociodemographic and clinical variables with the aim of delineating the characteristics that could define the alcoholics who dropped out following discharge. It was found that such patient were relatively younger with lower level of education, less frequently married, had earlier onset of problem drinking with poor social support and higher rates of mental problems. It was concluded that post discharge attrition of alcoholics could be a social as well as a clinical problem in any setting rendering long treatment for alcoholism.