ALCOHOL-PROBLEMS IN THE GENERAL-HOSPITAL

The likelihood of a man being admitted to a general hospital for liver disease, myocardial infarction, other cardiovascular disease, upper g astrointestinal disease and acute trauma increases progressively as ad mitted alcohol intake increases, commencing at an admitted consumption of 30/g per day.(1-3) Heavy drinkers are also more likely than light drinkers to be admitted for respiratory disorders, presumably because of the connection with smoking. In addition to these and other medical conditions linked to alcohol use, there are admissions directly relat ed to alcohol dependence and its complications such as fits, or deliri um. Trends in general hospital discharges for alcohol dependence, psyc hosis and misuse for the 1980's have been examined in Scotland and fou nd to have increased, in a period when discharges for alcohol disorder s from psychiatric hospitals have decreased (Figs 1-3).(4) Changes in diagnostic practices are unlikely to account for such a large change, but a shift from psychiatric to general hospital may have contributed.