Prognosis in Alcoholic Rehabilitation: The Relative Significance of Social, Psychological, and Medical Factors

Abstract

The aim was to elucidate the relative importance of a wide range of patient characteristics (social, psychological, and medical factors) in prediction of alcoholic posttreatment functioning. The development of working capacity was recorded for 34 advanced alcoholics during 2 years subsequent to rehabilitation. The results indicated that external social characteristics, psychiatric symptoms, and alcohol-related medical symptoms were almost insignificant as predictors. However, two groups of significant psychological factors emerged (loneliness–low self-esteem, together with indolence–lassitude). The few social predictors indicated that the way of using alcohol (more extraverted and observable) was associated with a negative prognosis.