The coping styles of alcoholics with axis II disorders.

This study investigated the drinking triggers and coping styles of alcoholics with coexisting personality disorders (PDs). Forty-eight outpatients in alcohol treatment (75% men) were assessed with a structured interview for PD diagnoses and were divided into two groups: those with one or more PD diagnoses (n = 29) and those with no personality disorder (NPD) diagnoses (n = 19). Relative to NPD participants, PD participants had greater alcoholism severity and were more likely to have another Axis I psychiatric diagnosis.

Alcoholism diagnoses for convicted drinking drivers referred for alcoholism evaluation.

The types and extent of alcohol-related problems were determined for a sample of 461 convicted drinking drivers who were referred to an alcoholism treatment facility for evaluation and possible treatment. Using responses to questionnaire and structured interview questions on alcohol-related problems, DSM III diagnoses are constructed; approximately three-quarters of the sample are diagnosed with sufficient severity for a DSM III diagnosis of abuse or dependence. Self-reported consumption levels and drinking/driving incidents increase as the level of the alcohol problem increases; persons in the Alcohol Abuse category are heavier consumers and drive more frequently after drinking than are persons who are not diagnosed by the DSM III as having an alcohol problem.

The decision to recommend alcoholism treatment for DWI offenders.

The decision to recommend alcoholism treatment for convicted drinking drivers is examined for a treatment program in Western New York. A total of 2,061 client files were abstracted for these analyses. The Mortimer-Filkins score and the blood alcohol concentration at the time of arrest were the two best discriminating variables in the decision to recommend treatment in these analyses.