[The age of onset of alcohol-related problems as a prognostic factor in abstinence in patients admitted to a general hospital].

Seventy-three inpatients of a general hospital were studied prospectively. Detection of alcohol problems was done by non-psychiatrist physicians. The psychiatrist, after evaluating the problem recommended an outpatient centre for treatment. One year after this 15% of them remained abstinent. Age onset of alcohol-related problems correlated positively with abstinence days number. Abstinence was associated with an late age onset of alcohol-related problems and contacting with the outpatient center. Thirty-seven years age was the cutoff point with more specificity and sensibility. Hypothesis for this results are discussed.