First results of a clinical and catamnestic investigation are reported for the efficiency of a highly structured outpatient therapy with alcohol-dependents. One hundred and two patients were included in the study. Of the patients,60% were male and 40% female. The average age was 45 years (+/-8). The average duration of alcohol dependence amounted to 15 years (+/-9), and the last average quantity of pure alcohol drunk was 193 g. Twenty-seven per cent of the patients had completed inpatient therapies in the past. Treatment retention amounted to n=74 (72.5%), and 18 of the 25 dropped out because of alcohol relapse. On average, relapsed dropouts indicated a longer abuse of alcohol and significantly more pretreatments than completers, and they also reported significantly stronger craving for alcohol (measured with the OCDS). Furthermore, they also achieved significantly higher total scores in the BDI (depression) and STAI (anxiety) scales at the beginning of therapy. At 6/12-month follow-ups, 90%-95% of the patients were successfully located and interviewed. Analyses revealed that 64% of the patients were still abstinent at 6-month follow-up evaluation, and 56% had remained abstinent until 12-month follow-up. Therapeutic implications of these satisfying therapy results are discussed, and the current knowledge on the efficiency of outpatient therapies is presented.
Adult Alcoholism