A follow-up evaluation of the treatment of chronic alcoholics.

The records of 95 chronic alcoholic patients first admitted to the Addiction Research Foundation hospital, Toronto, in 1962 were examined; in 63 of these sufficient follow-up information was available for six months after hospitalization to permit further study.It was found that the prescription of tranquillizers or deterrent drugs could be related only to the individual physician's inclination toward drug therapy. Significantly more female than male patients received antidepressants and proportionately more females than males were found in the 41-50 year age group, suggesting a possible connection between menopausal age, onset of depressive symptoms, and uncontrolled drinking. No correlation was found between relative degree of sobriety and the consumption of tranquillizers or deterrent drugs, the number of follow-up interviews, or regular psychotherapy. The mean age of the totally abstinent patients was significantly higher than that of the whole group, suggesting a connection between ageing and a decline in addiction to alcohol.