Demand for Prior Treatment in Alcoholic Patients

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze the use of healthcare resources by alcoholic patients. A prospective study of 176 patients (147 males, 29 females; mean age 42.9 years) diagnosed as alcohol dependent, according to criteria DSM-IV, has been carried out over one year (June 2002 to June 2003) in three centers of treatment for alcoholics in Castilla y León (Spain). Of the 176 patients, 67% had previously requested treatment for their alcoholism in other centers, mainly in mental-health (37.5%), emergency (34.1%), and primary care (31.8%). On average, they had requested treatment 2.27 times, the women more frequently than the men. The current study shows that alcohol-dependent patients frequently use healthcare services during the history of their dependence to treat their illness.

Keywords:

• alcoholism
• primary care
• mental health
• emergency room
• alcoholism treatment services

Additional information

Notes on contributors

M. T. Gómez-Talegón

Maria Trinidad Gómez-Talegón, Ph.D., is a research physician working on epidemiological aspects related to alcohol in the Institute for Alcohol and Drug Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valladolid. She is also responsible for medical evaluation and treatment at the Alcoholics Rehabilitates Centre in Valladolid.

F. J. Álvarez

F. Javier Alvarez, Ph.D., is a Professor of Pharmacology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Valladolid, and Director of the Institute for Alcohol and Drug Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valladolid. He is working on several aspects related to psychoactive substances, mainly in the areas of epidemiological studies related to the patterns of alcohol and drug use in several settings, developing policies, preventive programs, and treatment services.