Some aspects of the social adaptation of 211 clinically treated alcoholics (gammaalcoholics cf. Jellinck, i.e. patients suffering from alcohol-addiction) are reported. The follow-up interval was 2-5 7 years. The following variables were studied:
Drinking pattern (with sub-categories: Abstinent,Moderately Sporadically drinking, Moderately Frequently drinking, Excessively Sporadically drinking and Excessively Frequently drinking) somatic condition, mental condition, family situation, working conditions, financial-economic situation, housing conditions, social contacts and criminality. A sum-total of the scores in each variable was computed for every patient.
The following data were found:
22,5% was abstinent, 98% of whom had a positive sum-total of the variables studied.
49% had an improved drinking pattern (i.e. M.S., M.F. and E.S.), 96% of whom had a positive sum-total of the variables studied.
51% had the same or a worsened drinking pattern (i.e. E.F.), 23,5% of whom had a positive and 76,5% of whom had a 0 or a negative sum-total of the variables studied.