A Follow-up Study of 221 Alcohol Addicts in Denmark

Abstract

A total of 221 alcohol addicts were treated at the Saint Hans Hospital (Roskilde, Denmark) in the period from July 1 1948 to Dec. 31 1950, in most cases with a few months'' stay in hospital. Treatment consisted of occupational therapy and disulfiram. Continued ambulant treatment with this drug was attempted in Copenhagen. Patients were followed up from 2.75 to 5.25 years later. Three groups were established: Group I, those who died[long dash]42 in all[long dash]including 15 by suicide. In the 1930''s Ellermann found only 18 deaths (including only 1 suicide) in a similar series from the same hospital; Group n, 40 cases concerning whom no information was available; and Group HI, 114 thoroughly elucidated cases categorized according to results as 43 "good," 45 "fair," and 26 "poor," a total of 88 (77%) with positive results. In addition, there were 25 cases on whom insufficient information was available; if all these are added to the poor results group, the total in the good and fair groups becomes 63%.