Evaluation of a Chemopsychotherapeutic Program for the Rehabilitation of Alcoholics. Observations over a Two-Year Period

Abstract

Alcoholic patients (214 men and 37 women), seen in 272 consecutive admissions over an 8-month period were studied for 2 years while being treated by a combined chemopsychotherapeutic program. Patients were treated on inpatient, outpatient and combination of both bases. The rehabilitation program consisted of appropriate medical management of physical illnesses, promazine in daily doses of 100 to 600 mg, group therapy, individual counseling, family group therapy, occupational therapy, recreational therapy, etc. The results of treatment were evaluated on the basis of patients'' adherence to the program, the record of their relapses into drinking, and their subsequent social and economic adjustment. At the end of 1 year, 39% (34% of the men and 62% of the women), had shown good or some improvement, 55% little or none. The condition of 4% was beyond the scope of the clinic''s facilities and 2% had died. At the end of the 2d year, 231 of the initial series had maintained communication with the clinic. The 11 who were considered beyond the scope of the clinic''s facilities were still ineligible and were eliminated from the series. Of the remaining 220, 2% had died, 30% had maintained the first year''s progress, 24% had improved above the level of progress achieved the first year, 37% had made no progress in 2 years and 7% had regressed from the level of improvement attained in the first year. In general those patients with whom good results were obtained had an average age of 42, were still married and families attended group therapy; were spree drinkers and drinking problem had not existed over ten years. In the group that showed no progress most patients were lost after the first few visits, average age 49, drinking problem exceeded 10 years and they had a high incidence of concomitant serious physical disorders. Twenty-four patients showed evidence of liver damage and all but one manifested improvement and/or return to normal during course of therapy.