Age- and Gender-Specific Predictors for Abstinence after Inpatient Treatment of Alcohol Dependent Persons

Question: Contrary to the usual procedures employed in catamneses studies, considerations based on field theory prompted us to carry out separate analyses for women and for men of different age groups. Our question was whether there are sex and age differences in the different predictors of abstinence. Method: This is a catamnesis study of inpatient CBT treatment for alcohol dependence, in which data were analyzed retrospectively by means of binary logistical regression and the Mann-Whitney U test to identify differences between female (N=712) and male (N=1019) patients, who remained abstinent and who relapsed after one year. To achieve an adequate sample size, the age groups were divided into quartiles of 19-41, 42-48, 49-54, and 55-79 years. Results: Women and men did not differ in the rates of abstinence, with the exception of those over 54 years of age.With increasing age, the probability of abstinence increases for both sexes.Significant predictors (p<.01) with a medium effect size for relapse were: previous inpatient alcohol withdrawal treatment among 42-48 year old women (OR: 3.6), and among men over 54 (OR: 4.5), as well as psychological distress among 42-54 year old men (r = 0.30). Motivational schemata critical for relapse were high levels of dissatisfaction in the areas of "enjoying life(r =31) and ,achievement" (r =36) among women over 54,"being in control" among men aged 42-48 (r=30) and "being alone" among men aged 49-54 (r = 30). Conclusions: Our results speak in favour of gender- and age-sensitive research and therapy, considering socioeconomic characteristics and motivational schemata. In particular, there is a need for more research with patients under 42 years of age, because of the high rates of relapse and a lack of predictors.