The relationship between educational attainment and relapse among alcohol-dependent men and women: a prospective study.

作者信息

Greenfield Shelly F, Sugarman Dawn E, Muenz Larry R, Patterson Marcus D, He David Y, Weiss Roger D

机构信息

McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA.

出版信息

Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2003 Aug;27(8):1278-85. doi: 10.1097/01.ALC.0000080669.20979.F2.

BACKGROUND

We investigated the relationship between educational attainment and drinking outcomes after discharge from inpatient treatment for alcohol dependence.

METHODS

Between 1993 and 1996, we consecutively recruited 41 women and 60 men hospitalized for alcohol dependence and followed them up monthly for 1 year. We conducted structured interviews during hospitalization and at monthly intervals after discharge for 1 year. We examined the relationship between educational attainment before treatment and postdischarge drinking outcomes, including time to relapse.

RESULTS

After covariate adjustment, educational level was a significant predictor of drinking outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Lower levels of educational attainment before entry into treatment predicted shorter times to first drink and relapse in both women and men. The association of educational attainment and treatment outcome for alcohol dependence warrants further investigation.