A 3 YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF ELDERLY ALCOHOLICS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 41  (12) , 412-416
Abstract
This is a 3 yr follow-up of the psychiatric status of 280 consecutive men age 65 and over who were admitted to the San Diego Veterans Administration Medical Center for medical or surgical problems. Of the indiviudals 11% had active or remitted primary alcoholism. Over the 3 yr only 20% of the surviving active alcoholics became abstinent. Most of the inactive alcoholics remained alcohol problem-free after 3 yr. Affective disorder and dementia were common intercurrent psychiatric disorders arising during follow-up. The yr mortality rate was significantly higher for remitted alcoholics when compared to those without psychiatric illness.

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