[Ambulatory treatment of alcoholics. A prospective study]

The present study covers 130 consecutive patients referred to the two outpatient clinics for alcoholism in Odense over a ten-month period from January to October 1993. The aim of the study was to describe the process of treatment over 12 months and assess the condition of the patients 12 months after the admission for treatment. All patients were assessed by means of the Addiction Severity Index at admission and after 12 months. While female alcoholics typically had psychiatric complaints, the drinking pattern was, however, alike for both sexes. Patients who themselves terminated their treatment had a significantly worse drinking pattern than those who completed treatment. Twelve months after the admission there was a significant decrease in the alcohol abuse and an improvement in psycho-social function for both sexes.