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Successfully adjusted alcoholics lost to long-term follow-up. A prospective study
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
|September 1, 1986
Summary
Long-term follow-up of male alcoholics revealed higher attrition rates in socially well-adjusted individuals. Personality disturbances and psychopathic behaviors were linked to lost participants in alcoholism studies.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Addiction Medicine
- Longitudinal Studies
Background:
- Assessing long-term outcomes in alcoholism requires understanding participant attrition.
- Previous studies highlight challenges in maintaining contact with individuals with alcohol use disorder.
Observation:
- A two-decade follow-up study tracked male alcoholics, comparing those with good social adjustment to those with disability pensions.
- Attrition rates were higher (14%) in the socially well-adjusted group versus the disability pension group (9%).
Findings:
- In both groups, subjects lost to follow-up or causing difficulties exhibited more personality disturbances and lack of behavioral control.
- Among socially well-adjusted alcoholics, psychopathic behavior at admission strongly predicted being lost to follow-up (P < 0.001).
Implications:
- Understanding factors influencing attrition is crucial for the validity of long-term alcoholism research.
- Identifying individuals with personality disorders and psychopathic traits may help improve participant retention in addiction studies.