Search

A research study shows that asking a single question inquiring about alcohol use by parents is as effective as the multiple question Family History Research Diagnosis Criteria test when determining parental alcohol use.

A comparison between 69 adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) and 30 control college students on revised MMPI-2 scales proved that ACOAs differed from the college students on several scales. The ACOA group revealed higher levels on the Depression, Psychopathic Deviate, Psychoasthenia and the MAC-R scales, implying that ACOAs have problems adjusting to society. The subscale showed variations in several groups of ACOAs.

A study was conducted to compare three sources of population samples being used in various research investigating the characteristics of children with alcoholic parents. Records of convicted drunk drivers and data from a survey conducted by the Health Maintenance Organization were evaluated together with telephone survey samples to determine the recruitment rate and efficiency of using these three sources. Results show that there are several effective methods for obtaining reliable community samples in studying children of alcoholic people.

Clients in a state-funded intensive case management program, most of whom were identified as heavy users of acute care and psychiatric emergency rooms, had undetected brutal life experiences: 50 percent were adult children of alcoholics, and many were sexually and physically abused as children or adults. None had been asked about or appropriately treated for these aspects of their background. Statistical analysis indicated high levels of correlation between exposure to alcohol abuse in the family, physical or sexual abuse, repeated hospitalization, and contemporary suffering. Social work can use this and related data to make mental health systems more responsive to clients' needs at both the clinical and systems levels.