Early treatment of women with alcohol addiction (EWA): a comprehensive evaluation and outcome study. I. Patterns of psychiatric comorbidity at intake.

This paper deals with psychiatric comorbidity among 60 women problem drinkers treated in a specialized women-only treatment programme (EWA) at Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. The programme attracts women who have not been previously treated for alcohol problems. The methods used were structured interviews (SCID-I and SCID-II) applied at least 10 days after the start of treatment. All but two of the women had a definite alcohol dependence according to the DSM-III-R, and a majority (60%) also fulfilled the criteria for at least one psychiatric disorder during their lifetime. However, only 23% had a personality disorder (PD), and all subjects with a PD also had at least one Axis I disorder. The most common disorders were mood disorders (48%) and anxiety disorders (38%). However, alcohol dependence developed without definite pre-existing psychiatric disorders among a substantial proportion of the women (40%). It remains to be seen whether and how psychiatric disturbances among female problem drinkers affect treatment compliance and long-term outcome.