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Ageing and recovery from alcoholism
1University of Lund, Sweden.
The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science
|September 1, 1987
Summary
Long-term follow-up of male alcoholics suggests that physiological changes associated with normal aging may facilitate remission from alcoholism in middle-aged and older adults.
Area of Science:
- Addiction Medicine
- Gerontology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Alcohol dependence is a chronic relapsing condition.
- Understanding long-term recovery patterns is crucial for effective treatment.
- The role of aging in alcohol dependence remission requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate long-term remission patterns in male alcoholics.
- To explore the influence of aging on alcohol dependence recovery.
- To identify factors associated with successful long-term adjustment.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 55 male alcohol-dependent individuals.
- Initial assessment using a multidimensional diagnostic schedule.
- Follow-up conducted approximately 20 years after first hospital admission.
Main Results:
- At follow-up, 11 individuals were abstinent, 11 transitioned to social drinking via abstinence, and 10 achieved social drinking through gradual changes.
- Improvement after age 45 was primarily linked to gradual shifts to social drinking.
- Decreased alcohol tolerance was cited as a reason for improvement in half of these cases.
Conclusions:
- Physiological changes during normal aging may contribute to remission in middle-aged and older alcoholics.
- Age-related changes in alcohol reactivity could be a key factor in recovery.
- Further research is needed to explore the interplay of personality, social factors, and alcohol dependence severity on long-term outcomes.