COOCCURRENCE OF PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDERS AND ALCOHOLISM IN UNTREATED ALCOHOLIC PATIENTS IN A VA MEDICAL WALK-IN (TRIAGE) CLINIC POPULATION

The authors identified 1,836 male veterans who were seeking treatment for various medical disorders at a walk-in (triage) clinic and screene d these patients for the presence of alcohol problems by administering a brief interview and the CAGE questionnaire. Patients who screened p ositive for alcohol problems and who had little or no prior treatment for these problems were then interviewed using a structured psychiatri c interview to establish the presence of alcohol dependence and co-occ urring psychiatric disorders. The rate of alcohol dependence and co-oc curring disorders was substantial and the pattern was consistent with studies of veteran patients surveyed in other clinical settings.