[A catamnestic study of recovered alcoholics]

Fifty-one alcoholics, previously admitted to the hospital for medical care and treated with disulfiram, were re-examinated after 1-3 years. In thirty of them (58%) total abstinence was found; eighteen patients (35%) behaved so in spite of disulfiram withhold during the first year of self-administration. No side-effects were reported. General behaviour, mood, work, interest and familiar relationships improved. The treatment generally failed in the cases of secondary alcoholism as in marked neurosis or psychosis. The research proved the main role of family and environment in the successful cases. The treatment with disulfiram is useful but incomplete.