Data on age, sex, socioeconomic status, psychiatric diagnosis and therapeutic outcome of the 1st 100 admissions (55 men and 45 women) to the Alcoholism Treatment Unit of the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center [USA] were examined. The patients were followed up for 2.5-5 yr. The philosophy of the unit is that characterological or emotional disorders underlie the problem of alcoholism and that therapy include treatment of the underlying disorder as well. The program consists of individual psychotherapy, group therapy, meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous and drug therapy if necessary. The average hospitalization was 18 wk for the men and 21 for the women. The average age of the men and women was 47 and 48 yr, respectively; 40 and 30 were married; 33 and 31 had attended college or completed postgraduate studies. Men (28) and women (26) were in Hollingshead socioeconomic (SES) categories I and II. Of the sample, 54% were of upper socioeconomic status; psychoneurosis was the secondary diagnosis in 30 patients (17 in SES I and II; 20 women) and personality disorders in 49 (24 in SES I and II; 16 women). Patients were considered much improved if they were abstinent, or drank rarely and in a controlled manner (group A, 43 patients); improved if they indulged rarely in binge-type drinking (group B, 25); or unimproved (group C, 32). Patients in SES categories I and II constituted 65% of group A, unimproved group. The secondary diagnoses of group A were 50% personality disorders, 42% psychoneurotics, 5% manic-depressive and 3% schizophrenic. The relationship between socioeconomic status, therapeutic philosophies and treatment modalities is discussed.