Características predictivas coadyuvantes a la rehabilitación integral del enfermo alcohólico

Abstract

89 alcoholic patients not belonging to rehabilitating groups treated for more than six months at a specialized clinic (SC) were surveyed: 79% were 40 years or older, 51% were illiterates or had basic incomplete education. Job and partner stabilities were declared by 51% and 56%. One third began drinking before 16 years of age and two thirds did it before 21. Treatment was began after 16 years of drinking in 69% and after 21 years or more in 56% and at 40 years of age or more in 57% and 50 years or more in 32%. These patients were compared to other 54, from a rehabilitating instimtion(R), studied in the same city area, with equal method and instrument. One third of SC patients was in complete abstinence and 25% in lasting abstinence. 60% did not considered themselves as alcoholics. Main reasons to begin treatment were; family and physical, mental, job or economic damage; being family and physical or mental damage the leading reasons to maintain treatment followed by desire of better self esteem and social acceptance (43%). All patients mentioned positive changes: family (80%), social acceptance and self evaluation (76%) and job or economic changes (60%). Both groups were not similar. Although comparable in socioeconomic status, age at intake onset and years of intake they showed differences (alfa: 0,05) in age at treatment onset (younger in R patients), treatment failures (lower in R patients), lasting and complete abstinence (higher in R patients). For both groups family had the first priority but exhibited different reasons and significant agents. All had perception of improvements in their living conditions, family and job lives.