An Outcome Study Comparing Refusers and Acceptors of Treatment for Alcoholism

Abstract

Fifteen matched pairs of alcoholics who had either refused or completed day treatment were reassessed sixteen months after the initial assessment. The treated group had improved significantly more than the untreated group on measures related directly to alcohol abuse, in their utilization of inpatient psychiatric services, and the use of family physician's services. The treated group had also used disulfiram for significantly longer periods of time. The treatment refusers had nonetheless achieved statistically significant, albeit modest, reduction in their consumption of alcohol compared to their pre-assessment levels. Both groups showed equal amount of change on a number of psychosocial measures, such as employment, use of minor tranquilizers and non-prescription drugs, legal problems and symptoms of depression. These findings are discussed in the context of the effectiveness of a day program, the use of disulfiram and certain pretreatment characteristics of the patient.