Differences Between Alcoholic and non Alcoholic Female Psychiatric Patients

Sixty-four consecutive DSM-III alcoholic female psychiatric patients (A group) were compared with sixty-four non alcoholic women from the same psychiatric units. Those in group A more often had nervous sisters. The mean age of the first nervous symptoms & of coming to psychiatry was significantly lower in group A, & they had more suicidal attempts & criminality. During childhood, adolescence & adult age, they reacted more often to losses with acting out & alcohol abuse. Nervous problems & close contact difficulties seem to have manifested themselves mostly before the alcohol abuse was established. (34 refs)