Patient characteristics and outcome of inpatient treatment for alcoholism.

Abstract

This article reviews the literature on relationships between patient characteristics and outcome of inpatient treatment for alcoholism. The article is organized according to categories of patient variables which have been studied. These include psychological characteristics, demographic variables, degree of alcohol dependence, motivation for treatment, coping styles, and beliefs about abstinence from alcohol. Conclusions based on the studies reviewed are presented, along with a discussion of why definitive conclusions are rare in the field of alcoholism treatment research. Conceptual and methodological issues in this research area are highlighted in attempting to come to some coherent and integrated conclusions regarding the current state of knowledge, and directions for current and future research are discussed.