Treating the Alcoholic in the Presence of Alcohol

In order to determine patterns of alcoholism on the basis of observation rather than drinking histories, the authors conducted three six-week studies in which hospitalized alcoholics were given the choice of drinking or not at frequent fixed intervals. Some took all the drinks available, one-third began drinking but stopped, and one-third took no drinks at all. The opportunity has thus been provided to study antecedent factors and personality variables in the three groups.