PREVALENCE AND REQUIRED TREATMENT OF ALCOHOLISM IN MEDICAL AND SURGICAL INPATIENTS

Problems resulting from alcoholism are among the most frequent reasons for referring general hospital inpatients to psychiatric consultation/liaison services. As surveys from internal medical departments have demonstrated, about 10-20% of the medical patients have an alcohol problem. In the present study, the current prevalence of alcohol-specific diagnoses in a sample of each 200 medical and surgical general hospital inpatients is ascertained, as well as the relevant treatment necessities. The patients were diagnosed by the German version of Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) and a structured clinical interview In 14.5% of the patients a diagnosis of alcoholism was established; the prevalence rate in men was 25.4% compared to 4.4% in women. In 72.4% of the alcohol cases the intervention of a psychiatric consultation/liaison service was found necessary. The necessity for specific therapeutic interventions could be demonstrated, which should not be limited to the period of inpatient treatment but be continued after discharge from the hospital as well, The opportunity of secondary prevention of alcoholism in general hospitals should be used to a greater extent.