USE OF ALCOHOLISM PSYCHIATRIC-SERVICES BY MALE ALCOHOLICS IN AN 18-MONTH FOLLOW-UP

BACKGROUND: The paper assesses the use of public psychiatric services by alcoholic patients for a period of 18 months, and looks for possibl e sociodemographic and clinical variables associated with higher use o f services. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study of a cohort of m ale alcoholics (n = 137) from Alava (Spain). Information was gathered at the begining of a treatment episode using a structured interview on sociodemographic and clinical variables, including Michigan Alcoholis m Screening Test (MAST), and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-60). At 18 month follow-up, clinical records were used to examine psychiatric inpatient and outpatient use in Alava (Spain). A service use score wa s set up to measure global use of services. RESULTS: Eighty-three perc ent of alcoholics used outpatient services at least once, 48% attended the day-care service at least once, and 24% were admitted in a psychi atric unit at least once, during 18 month follow-up, Twenty percent of patients used 80% of services. The logistic regression models point t o the age, civil status, alcohol consumption amount and previous histo ry of alcoholic treatments as the main predictors for heavy use of psy chiatric services. CONCLUSIONS: A Small percentage of alcoholics in tr eatment use the main part of psychiatric resources.