Definitions of non-abstinent and abstinent categories in alcoholism treatment outcome classifications: a review and proposal.

Dispute about the relative frequencies of abstinent and non-abstinent outcomes following alcoholism treatment cannot be resolved in the absence of consensually-agreed definitions of such outcome categories. A review of influential outcome studies reveals wide differences in how controlled drinking and even abstinence have been defined and it is reasonable to suppose that this is partly responsible for striking variations in rates reported in the literature. Some requirements of a more satisfactory definitional scheme are described and a proposal made which, if accepted, might help to resolve issues relating to the frequency of non-abstinent outcomes.