A three year follow-up of elderly alcoholics

This a 3 year follow-up of the psychiatric status of 280 consecutive men age 65 and over who were admitted to the San Diego Veterans Administration Medical Center for medical or surgical problems. Eleven percent of the individuals were found to have active or remitted primary alcoholism. Over the 3 years only 20% of the surviving active alcoholics became abstinent. Most of the inactive alcoholics remained alcohol problem-free after 3 years. Affective disorder and dementia were common intercurrent psychiatric disorders arising during follow-up. The 3 year mortality rate was significantly higher for remitted alcoholics when compared to those without psychiatric illness.