Successful adjustment in alcoholism. Relationships between causes of improvement, personality, and social factors

In a follow-up of 42 recovered male alcoholics two decades after their first admission to hospital, negative social consequences of abuse, changes in social circumstances, or social pressure to stop drinking were reported as the main causes of improvement by 70% of the subjects. Only 19% attributed their improvement mainly to treatment and 7% to Alcoholics Anonymous. Sixty percent of the subjects stated that treatment had been of importance. "Hitting bottom" or experiencing responsibility had been of importance for 60% of the subjects. Types of improvement-promoting factors were associated with personality characteristics (rated at first admission) and with the social situation and the age at the time of the improvement.