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The Outcome of Outpatient Withdrawal from Alcohol
Author(s) -
WEBB MARCUS,
UNWIN ANTONY
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
british journal of addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0952-0481
DOI - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1988.tb01585.x
Subject(s) - medicine , predictive value , alcohol consumption , ambulatory care , inpatient care , emergency medicine , psychiatry , health care , alcohol , biochemistry , chemistry , economics , economic growth
Summary A sample of 50 male military veterans, many of whom were heavily alcohol dependent, was studied in an outpatient withdrawal programme. Fifty‐four per cent of the sample completed outpatient withdrawal, 22% were admitted to inpatient care and 24% dropped out from care. The ‘admitted’ group was distinguishable by a later age of onset of drinking and by higher dependence scores (SADQ) than the other two groups, and by higher daily cigarette consumption than the ‘completed’ group. Predictive factors for the group which dropped out from care could not be identified, though there was a trend for these patients to be younger, and none of them presented with a serious physical disorder. Four risk factors, including SADQ score, were selected which had some predictive value for admission to inpatient care.