Citation

Sutton LR, Fenton C. Proc. Int. Counc. Alcohol Drugs Traffic Safety Conf. 1993; 1993: 202-206.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, The author(s) and the Council, Publisher International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an examination of the emotional and psychiatric characteristics of first-time DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol) offenders, using a battery of three psychological tests and three tests of alcoholism. In the study, 216 DUI offenders were given these tests, before going to standard safe driving classes. 186 men and 30 women, of ages 18 to 76, participated in the study. They represented all the offenders who were court ordered to go to safe driving classes at a particular centre in Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Results were obtained for assessment of alcoholism, rates of depression, and indicators of other psychological problems normally needing monitoring by a psychiatrist. In this sample, 38% of alcohol-impaired drivers showed signs of clinical psychiatric problems, but it appears that most of them were not being treated for those problems at the time of their offences. It seems possible that an offender with a serious emotional problem may at some time have attempted to 'treat' his symptoms with alcohol. The author recommends that rehabilitation programmes again examine the possibility that offenders may have psychological or psychiatric problems in addition to alcoholism. They should either include psychiatric treatment or be able to refer offenders to other professionals for such treatment.