Female alcoholics. II. Factors associated with psycho-social outcome 3-10 years after treatment.

In a follow-up study of 44 female alcoholics, different aspects of outcome were studied. These were alcohol consumption, the use of drugs and psycho-social functioning. Also studied was a sumscore of these items called total outcome score. Childhood experiences such as having had a mentally disturbed father, a violent mother and/or unstable childhood environment were associated with a poor total outcome score. The same was true for alcohol abuse and violence in partner during follow-up period. Those women who had had their children removed from the home by the social authorities during follow-up period, also had a poor outcome. Destructive patterns of interaction experienced in family of origin may repeat themselves in adult life in relationship with partner and children. The successful treatment of female alcoholics would require modification of these behavioral patterns as well as drinking behaviour.