A study of the alcohol drinking habits of patients admitted to the Winnipeg psychopathic hospital
Date
1957-05-01T00:00:00Z
Authors
Prosen, Harry.
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Abstract
The purpose of the study was to assess the alcohol drinking habits of patients admitted to the Winnipeg Psychopathic Hospital. The study included both those patients admitted without apparent alcohol problems and those admitted either directly or indirectly because of alcohol problems. The patients were classified as "abstainer," "normal drinkers," "problem drinkers," and "alcohol addicts." The subjects used in the study were two hundred consecutive individual patients admitted to the Winnipeg Psychopathic Hospital between January 18, 1956 and May 24, 1956. The author interviewed each patient as to his drinking habits and questioned an independent witness in nearly every case. The results were tabulated and discussed. The essential finders were: 1. There were a total of 31 (15.5 per cent) abstainers, 124 (62 per cent) normal drinkers, 14 (7 per cent) problem drinkers and 31 (15.5 per cent) alcohol addicts. 2. Thiry-six per cent of the alcohol addicts were males in their first admission; 45 per cent were readmitted males; 16 per cent were females in their first admission; 3 per cent were readmitted females. 3. a. The ratio of male to female abstainers was of the order 1:3. b. The ratio of male to female alcohol addicts was of the order 4:1.