Citation

Lewis CE, Smith E, Kercher C, Spitznagel E. Alcohol Clin. Exp. Res. 1995; 19(4): 984-991.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7485850

Abstract

This study investigates the predictors of mortality in 156 male alcoholics who were psychiatrically hospitalized between 1967 and 1968 and followed for > 20 years. The findings showed that an older age, liver cirrhosis, and separation or divorce at intake were all associated with a shorter time to death. These results corroborate those of other follow-up studies that have identified age, health, and social support as independent correlates of mortality in alcoholics. From a therapeutic standpoint, the most alterable predictor is social support. Thus, the establishment of a salutary social network and social support system should be an integral part of the alcoholic's treatment plan.

Language: en