Alcoholics in psychiatric institutions. A nationwide Danish follow-up.

Two epidemiologically defined cohorts of first-referred clients to outpatient clinics for alcoholics (1972 and 1982) were followed up. It was found that previous hospitalization is a pointer to admission to psychiatric institutions. More females are admitted than males and they are more often diagnosed as depressive. Over an 11-year follow-up period, the admitted males of the 1972 cohort spent an average of 112 days in psychiatric institutions, and the females an average of 132 days.