Female alcoholics. IV. Admission problems and patterns

In an age-matched sample of male and female inpatient alcoholics (n = 518) of the same ethnic background, subjects under 35 years of age described significantly more problem areas than older age groups. Elderly subjects over 55 were the least articulate group. The first-ever addiction treatment subjects reported the lowest mean number of years of problem drinking, the lowest mean Michigan Alcoholic Screening Test scores and the lowest mean daily alcohol intakes. They also displayed greater current social stability than the 2 readmission treatment categories. The general determinants of admission to this addiction unit centered around the experience of crises, social instability and psychological complaints. The most important specific determinants for the individual subject were the propensity to fight when drunk, followed by a positive parental history of excess alcohol intake. Criminal and occupational factors were infrequently encountered in female subjects, but widowhood was common in the older ones.