[Disulfiram in the treatment of alcoholic patients].

In a retrospective investigation we report our experience with alcohol-dependent patients who were hospitalized between 1987 and 1990. There were 58 patients, 29% of them were hospitalized several times. In the middle of 1991 and 1992 we interviewed the family doctors and the social workers who cared for the patients. In 48% of the patients there was improvement, in 24% there was a stabilization, and in 28% we noted a deterioration. There was no difference in patients treated by the family doctor alone or in patients treated by the social workers. Comparing patients taking Disulfiram with patients taking no drug, there was no difference in improvement (48% versus 50%). But the good results in patients not taking disulfiram were nearly exclusively noted for those who had been hospitalized in a special clinic for alcohol-dependent persons. Patients who were hospitalized several times for alcohol withdrawal had a worse chance to improve their situation (-20%). The therapy with disulfiram in alcohol-dependent patients is helpful to cure chronic alcoholics. Programs in a specialized clinic improve also the chance to be cured of the addiction.