The authors of this study sent case vignettes to 200 psychiatrists, randomly placing previous diagnosis of alcohol dependence & the sex of the patient. They found those psychiatrists who received a vignette with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence were more likely to rate the patient as difficult, less in need of admission, uncompliant, annoying, having a poor prognosis & more likely to be discharged from follow-up. There was minimal sex difference. (18 refs.) (VM)