Predictors of drinking and functional outcomes for men and women following inpatient alcohol treatment.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

This prospective study uses path analytic models to examine baseline characteristics associated with both functioning and drinking outcomes 12 months after inpatient alcohol treatment.

METHODS

Alcohol-dependent participants (N = 101) were recruited during inpatient alcohol treatment and assessed monthly 1 year after discharge.

RESULTS

Alcohol severity was negatively associated with education and self-efficacy; marital status was positively associated with self-efficacy; and education and self-efficacy were negatively associated with drinking outcomes. Low alcohol severity, not having a depression diagnosis, and being married were associated with less social support impairment, which was in turn associated with better drinking outcomes. Having a history of sexual abuse did not influence drinking outcomes. However, having a history of sexual abuse was negatively associated with global functioning.

CONCLUSIONS AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE

Drinking outcomes were associated with education, self-efficacy, social support, and diagnosis of depression at baseline; however, global functioning 1 year following treatment was primarily and negatively associated with sexual abuse history. Future treatment research should include measures of both functioning and drinking behavior outcomes.