Predictors of the outcome of disability pension for alcohol abusers

A multi-variate multiple regression analysis was carried out to screen the crucial characteristics of alcohol abusers immediately prior to pension in order to indicate their subsequent trends. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were performed in the younger and older subgroups, as well as in 56 first-time pension applicants, in a region of the county of Ostergötland in Sweden. In the analyses, changes, over a 2-year interval, of composite scores on overall well-being, psychiatric status, need satisfaction and intellectual capacity, together with changes in alcohol consumption and gamma-GT-value, functioned as dependent variables. Eighty-five parameters of the abusers' quality of life at pension served as independent variables. The features that were seen, in various constellations, to be significantly related to non-improvement rather than to improvement were: an abrupt change-over from a previously active life, longer education, middle age, tendencies to passivity and to social confinement, worse observed psychiatric status in contrast to less bad reported status, relatively better self-rated well-being, remaining intellectual resources, black-outs, a lower current alcohol consumption, lower gamma-GT, S-NAP, S-ALAT- and S-protein-values together with more elevated P-IgA, P-ALP-, S-creatinine- and S-Ca-corrected values. The results are discussed with reference to their general applicability, plausible mechanisms in a pension situation, previously launched hypotheses, and the methodological limitations of the study. It is concluded that a literal application of the results in practice must be made with caution.