Am J Psychiatry 1982; 139:560-565
Copyright © 1982 by American Psychiatric Association
Follow-up of abstinent and nonabstinent alcoholics
E Gottheil, CC Thornton, TE Skoloda and AI Alterman
Despite differences in samples and designs, follow-up studies of alcoholic
patients by the Rand Corporation, the state of Oklahoma, and the Veterans
Administration (VA) revealed more similarities than differences in outcome
and relapse. In the VA study at 6, 12, and 24 months' follow-up, it was
found that drinking status and psychosocial adjustment were significantly
correlated, the percentage of patients drinking moderately varied from 33%
to 47% and did not decrease over time, and the percentage of patients in
remission remained constant at 55% over the 2-year period. These data
appear to support the inclusion of moderate drinking in the definition of
remission.
