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Prediction of Drinking Outcomes for Male Alcoholics after 10 to 14 Years
Author(s) -
Powell Barbara J.,
Landon Jennifer F.,
Cantrell Peggy J.,
Penick Elizabeth C.,
Nickel Elizabeth J.,
Liskow Barry I.,
Coddington Theresa M.,
Campbell Jan L.,
Dale Tamara M.,
Vance Mary D.,
Rice Audrey S.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1998.tb04293.x
Subject(s) - psychosocial , medicine , alcohol abuse , psychiatry , injury prevention , poison control , psychology , medical emergency
This study reports on the long‐term outcomes of 360 men who were hospitalized for alcoholism during 1980 to 1984 and followed at 12 months and again 10 to 14 years later. At the 10/14‐year follow‐up, 96 (26.7%) men were confirmed as deceased; 255 (70.8%) men participated in the assessment/interview battery completed during baseline hospitalization. The battery consisted of psychosocial, alcohol‐related, and psychiatric measures. Two distinct but highly correlated outcome measures were selected: a clinical rating scale and a factor score. Overall, predictors from baseline and 12‐month follow‐up included age at intake hospitalization, alcoholism severity, social stability, drinking days, and antisocial personality disorder. Approximately 37% of the assessed survivors were either totally abstinent or drinking nonabusively throughout the 10/14‐year follow‐up, whereas another 37% continued to drink abusively. Men who abstained or reduced alcohol intake reported better physical health at follow‐up than those who continued to drink. Although our findings did not directly link alcoholism to death, they strongly indicate that chronic alcohol abuse may lead to premature death.