The Missouri Alcoholism Severity Scale: relationship with type of alcohol consumption

Data on 10,562 alcoholics treated in public programs in Missouri were retrieved from a statewide computerized mental health information system. Scores on the Missouri Alcohol Severity Scale were correlated with various symptom data, including average amount of beer, wine and distilled spirits ingested. Severity scores were primarily related to consumption of distilled spirits and the emergence of physical-medical symptoms. Correlations with beer drinking were higher for women than for men. A subsample of 889 alcoholics who drink beer only tended to be middle-aged, relatively stable, White men with less severe symptoms than other alcoholics.