[Sobriety factors in alcoholics].

To examine sobriety factors which alcoholics understood being useful for recovery from alcoholism, a case-control study with self-completion questionnaires was conducted in 31 abstinent male alcoholics, aged 39-69 years (mean 53), who were taking part in Danshu-Kai (Japanese Abstinence meeting) for an average period of 5 years, and 31 age (+/- 5 years) matched male nonabstinent alcoholics, who were hospitalized because of alcoholism in a mental hospital for an average period of 7 months. The results indicated that abstinent alcoholics were significantly more married, employed, not hospitalized, having insight into disease as alcoholism, continuously abstinent over 2 years, and experienced in Danshu-Kai or Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) than nonabstinents, similarly understood that "Abstinence meeting" and "Family" significant factors for recovery from alcoholism, they realized that "Risky" was not effective for abstinence, whereas nonabstinents misunderstood that "Risky" was useful to their sobriety. It is suggested that "Stability of business", "Married life", and "Insight into disease" contribute to recovery from alcoholism; "Abstinence meeting", "Pertinent support by family" and "Recognition of Risky" are significant factors for sobriety.