A Follow-Up of Alcoholics Committed to a State Hospital

Abstract

An intensive study was made in 1955 of the post-hospital adjustment of 98 persons committed to a state mental hospital (Ypsilanti State Hospital, Michigan) for alcoholism in 1948 and 1949. Twelve persons could not be adequately evaluated despite direct follow-up techniques using trained social workers. No significant relationships were found between total years of drinking and recovery, nor between duration of excessive drinking and recovery. However, the younger persons committed to the hospital seemed to have poorer prognoses for rehabilitation. Deaths and the contraction of pulmonary tuberculosis during the post-hospital period were significantly higher than in the general population. At least 41% of the group that could be evaluated were considered rehabilitated. Although this is not a particularly impressive statistic, all were resistant to hospitalization and many initially denied any alcoholic problem. It is suggested that state hospitals establish programs designed to treat those alcoholics who are unlikely to seek help on a voluntary basis.