@article{ref1,
title="Mortality of treated alcoholics after eight years in relation to short-term outcome",
journal="Alcohol and alcoholism",
year="1997",
author="Gerdner, A. and Berglund, M.",
volume="32",
number="5",
pages="573-579",
abstract="This study concerns the relation between mortality and the short-term outcome of inpatient treatment for alcoholism. A total of 121 patients (87 men, 34 women) were included, of whom 89 were voluntary and 32 compulsorily committed. They had a mean age of 41 +/- 7 (SD) years and attended a 5-week programme at Runnagården, Orebro, Sweden. Most patients were socially unstable and severely alcohol-dependent. Ten months (mean) after discharge, 96% of the patients and their referring social workers were contacted with mail questionnaires. Of these patients, 13% had been totally abstinent and a further 42% improved but had had relapses. After a mean of 8.5 +/- 0.27 years, 27 patients (24%) had died. All abstainers survived, but non-abstainers had nine-fold higher mortality than expected. Non-abstinent improved women tended to survive longer than non-improved women, but among non-abstinent improved men no such tendency was found. In conclusion, a reduction in the frequency and quantity of abusive drinking was not enough to reduce the higher risk of death. Only abstinence seemed to be preventive.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0735-0414",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}