Life-table analysis of abstinence in a study evaluating the efficacy of disulfiram

Data from a study evaluating the efficacy of disulfiram for the treatment of alcoholism were analyzed by life-table methods. Previous analysis by more commonly used statistical tests showed a trend favoring disulfiram treatment, but the results were not statistically significant. Life-table methods are the appropriate techniques for analyzing longitudinal studies because they evaluate response to treatment over time rather than at one point in time. Analysis of our data using these methods revealed that disulfiram, combined with medical care and counseling, was superior to medical care and counseling alone in 128 men followed for 1 yr. This report demonstrates: (A) the advantage of life-table methods for evaluating treatment outcome data in alcoholism studies; and (B) the importance of disulfiram treatment in alcoholic patients similar to those we studied.