[Emergency treatment of alcoholics. Review of the admissions and readmissions to a psychiatric department with regard to the features of the group].

A retrospective investigation revealed 107 patients (29 women and 78 men) with the diagnosis of alcoholism who were admitted to the County Hospital in Vordingborg during a period of six months. Readmissions of these patients during the subsequent two years were registered. The object of the investigation was to characterize these patients as regards the mental and social conditions, as it was our impression that these conditions were of significance in the referral for treatment in the psychiatric department. In addition, we have investigated whether it is possible to point out prognostic factors for the frequency of readmission. 78% of the patients were between 30 and 50 years. Patients in social class 8 were overrepresented. This supports the presumption that admission to a psychiatric department is not based on the abuse per se but rather on the problem complex of abuse, mental and social problems. 2/3 of the patients had previously been treated for alcohol abuse. The frequency of readmission during the subsequent two years was highest for patient aged 30-50 years. In the age group 30-39 years, changes in the social and mental circumstances had occurred and, in the age group 40-49 years, somatic complications on account of the abuse had more frequently developed. No connection could be found between the duration of the first admission in the period of investigation and the frequency of readmission during the subsequent two years. It is concluded that the group of patients aged 30-39 years appears to require social initiative whereas the group of patients aged 40-49 years has a greater need for somatic treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)