A Comparison of Disulfiram Therapy and Routine Therapy in Alcoholism

Abstract

A comparison is made of results in 26 alcoholics treated with disulfiram (tetraethylthiuram disulfide) and a control group of 26 alcoholics treated by routine methods. Twelve patients in the disulfiram group have remained abstinent for periods of 6 to 18 months and of the group of 14 that relapsed several had fairly prolonged periods of abstinence. Results in the control group were very poor; 17 patients relapsed in a 2 months period and all 26 relapsed within a period of 6 months. The patients in the disulfiram group were generally more cooperative and more sincere in their desire to stop drinking than those in the control group. Disulfiram apparently is of definite value in producing longer periods of abstinence in alcoholics than routine therapy and is a valuable adjunct to psychotherapy in the treatment of alcoholics.