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Wine in the Treatment of Long‐Term Geriatric Patients in Mental Institutions
Author(s) -
MISHARA BRIAN L.,
KASTENBAUM ROBERT
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1974.tb06276.x
Subject(s) - wine , medicine , token economy , chloral hydrate , interpersonal communication , psychiatry , reinforcement , social psychology , food science , psychology , chemistry
The therapeutic effects of wine were studied in 80 long‐term psychogeriatric patients in two hospital wards each containing 20 men and 20 women. One ward was run on a Token Economy Program (TEP) and the other on a Free Enrichment Program (FEP). Under TEP, wine (limit, two servings of 1 1/2 ounces each) was purchasable with tokens earned by good behavior; under FEP, the wine was free regardless of behavior. The study lasted ten weeks, with a six‐month follow‐up. After the introduction of wine, there was a dramatic reduction in the use of chloral hydrate to induce sleep. There also was an increase in congenial interpersonal communication. The earning of wine tokens was a positive element in improving the behavior of some patients on the TEP ward, although it was a less effective behavioral reinforcement than cigarettes. Thus wine may play a significant role in treatment programs for the elderly. The subject needs further investigation.