Difficulty of follow-up and outcome of alcoholism treatment.

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Abstract
Of 494 alcoholics who were treated in 1 of 5 inpatient programs (3 treating low-income and 2 treating middle- and upper-income patients), 429 were followed up between 5 and 12 mo. after discharge from treatment. Success in locating patients and obtaining information from them was analyzed according to type of treatment program, types of follow-up strategies used, patients'' treatment outcomes and patients'' sociodemographic, psychosocial and drinking characteristics at intake and follow-up (according to patients'' responses to 2 questionnaires). Difficulty in locating patients was associated with poorer treatment outcome, but this poorer outcome was accounted for by sociodemographic characteristics and functioning at intake. Patients who, once located, subsequently moved or were uncooperative in providing information had poorer treatment outcome, but the poorer outcome in these patients was not attributable to characteristics at intake.

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