Improvement in Alcoholics Measured Using the General Health Questionnaire

Abstract

Over a 1-year study period all patients admitted to the department of psychiatry in a general hospital were asked to complete the General Health Questionnaire at admission, discharge, and first polyclinic (outpatient) follow-up contact. Seventeen per cent of admissions were alcoholics. Alcoholics improved rapidly after admission to the psychiatric department. This improvement was comparable to that of all the (psychiatric) patients admitted and continued after discharge.

Clinical models of stress

“…The concept of multiconditionality (Fig. 2) requires of the physician a multidimensional analysis in order to make a multi-axial diagnosis, as proposed by the DSM-III (14) or ICD-10 (15). In the DSM-III concept, an elaboration of Engel's biopsychosocial model, Axis I is for psychiatric disorders, Axis II for personality disorders, Axis III for somatic disorders, Axis IV for psychosocial problems and Axis V is the adaptional level, to which coping facilities are important.…”

“…Any disease in its turn will be a biological/clinical and social factor, causing more load (4). This strain–diathesis model, published in Selye's journal (5) and his latest book (6), will be discussed further, elaborated on in publications on this subject over many years (4–15).…”