Staff drinking patterns and approach to patient drinking problems within a psychiatric hospital

Previous studies at this VA hospital had indicated considerable evidence of "serious problem drinking" among the psychiatric patients. Mailed questionnaires to 344 treatment staff members assessed their attitudes toward and recommended approach to this problem as a function of job classification and personal drinking patterns. Results indicated that physicians, psychologists, and social workers favored a "therapeutic" approach to the problem, while nurses and nursing assistants advocated "punitive" measures. Interestingly, staff members who reported light or moderate personal drinking recommended additional therapy for these patients, while staff members who reported personal abstinence or heavy drinking generally suggested punitive actions.