Long term outcome for alcoholic patients treated in a hospital based unit

This study describes the long term outcome for patients admitted for treatment of alcoholism at Mahu clinic, Sunnyside Hospital, Christchurch. Details of 1000 consecutive admissions were recorded from March 1972 to October 1976. This included 616 patients with the data base taken from the first admission as some were readmitted. After known deaths were excluded in October 1983, 100 patients were randomly selected for followup until October 1984. Followup time varied from 8-12.5 years. Forty percent were found to be recovered. Implications for improved salvage rates are discussed.