Mental Disorders in Wives of Alcoholics

Abstract

Over a period of several months careful studies were made of all women admitted to a state hospital who gave a history of alcoholism on the part of their husbands. Of 18 such patients studied, in 11 onset of acute mental disorder was preceded by a decrease in the husband''s drinking; in only 1 case was there a definite preceding increase. In the 6 remaining instances the husband''s pattern was unchanged. Various indications of psychosexual immaturity were present in all these patients. It is suggested that the symbiotic relationship between the alcoholic and his wife is disturbed by a movement towards sobriety on the former''s part, leading to the onset of overt mental disorder in the latter. Group therapy may prove a useful technique for dealing with the emotional problems of these women.