This study is from a social work viewpoint and examines the nature and classification of the cases of alcoholism admitted to the Psychiatric Ward of a General Hospital. It gives particular emphasis to underlying personality factors and their relation to cause and cure. The case material was gleaned from records compiled by members of the medical staff and delineates three categories of alcoholics, namely, (a) those who can be helped by case-work treatment, b) those who cannot be helped by case-work because of deep-seated problems, but whose families can be helped, and (c), those who cannot be helped by either direct or indirect means. The findings of this study indicate the need for case-work services (a) in screening alcoholic patients who probably cannot benefit from treatment, (b) in determining the best treatment procedure for those who can be treated, (c) in working with other professional personnel in an integrated team approach to treatment, (d) in helping the patient with rehabilitation from the hospital, and (e), in preventive work in the community. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

No description available.

Alcoholism is a complex disease that exists as a specific set of behaviors, such as the preoccupation with obtaining alcohol and compulsive alcohol drinking. Currently, more than 18 million adults in the United States suffer from alcohol abuse or alcoholism. This disease poses serious medical and economic consequences for society. Identifying the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie alcohol drinking, specifically the transition from initiation to binge drinking is critical for improved treatments for alcoholics and the vulnerability for relapse in those recovering. Many studies have identified brain regions and molecular mechanisms that underlie various stages of alcohol abuse; however few have investigated the role of specific cell types within these areas. The overarching hypothesis of the studies in this dissertation is that cholinergic interneurons of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) are key neural substrates that underlie alcohol drinking, and as drinking continues; neuroadaptations within these cells then facilitate such behaviors as compulsive alcohol drinking. More specifically, these studies tested whether 1) cholinergic cell ablation in the NAc causes a decrease in alcohol drinking in C57BL/6J mice, 2) neuroadaptive changes in dopamine (DA) D2 receptor and cyclin dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) occur within these cells following initiation alcohol drinking, and to a greater extent following binge alcohol drinking in C57BL/6J mice, and 3) neuroadaptive changes in DA D2 receptor and Cdk5 also occur in brain regions that have been implicated in the rewarding and reinforcing effects of alcohol in inbred alcohol-preferring (iP) rats. The present findings report a causal role for accumbal cholinergic neurons in binge alcohol drinking and identify DA D2 receptor and Cdk5 neuroadaptations following initiation and binge alcohol drinking. These studies identify the involvement of cholinergic interneurons in binge drinking and reveal alcohol-induced region- and cell-specific receptor and molecular changes that occur with continued drinking. These findings contribute to the understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie alcohol drinking, and provide the basis for cholinergic targeted treatments designed to attenuate binge drinking. These data also provide the groundwork for future studies aimed to examine receptor and intracellular molecular changes that occur with compulsive alcohol drinking, craving, and relapse.

No description available.

No description available.

M.A. (Clinical Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Adopting a social problems framework, the relation between certain sociological factors and rehabilitation was analyzed for a group of alcoholic patients treated at an out-patient clinic. It was hypothesized that favourable socio-economic characteristics, such as being married and living with wife, being employed, living in acceptable housing, were related to treatment success. Six such factors, one of them a motivational index,were incorporated into a prognostic index by a Danish researcher. This index was replicated with data gathered during interviews with 155 male patients for a follow-up study during 1962/63. Treatment results and factors associated with treatment were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Stepwise regressions showed that socio-economic data combined into an index did not predict treatment outcome with any degree of accuracy for the Canadian sample. Housing, type of spirit consumed and age emerged as a "best" predictor, accounting for roughly 8 per cent of the variance involved in successful treatment outcome. The hypothesis was not confirmed that socio-economic factors are associated with rehabilitation, but it was found that certain social control factors, which are associated with socio-economic factors, are conducive to rehabilitation if treatment is given at out-patient clinics. The inferences drawn from the findings suggested both certain theoretical and practical implications for treatment. These were spelled out in some detail following Talcott Parsons' theory of social control and deviance, and definitions of illness and health in the light of North American values and social structure. / Arts, Faculty of / Sociology, Department of / Graduate

No description available.

No description available.

This study investigated demographic and personality variables, that counselors used in the selection of alcoholics for long term treatment and compared the completion rate for this group against completion rates reported in past studies, in order to determine if certain personality variables are associated with completion. The MMPI, Survey of Drinking Patterns and Effects, and a demographic questionnaire was administered to 355 lower class and "skid row" inpatient alcoholics from a North Tucson alcoholism treatment center. Results showed that counselors selection judgements approximated the characteristics of alcoholics who had completed long term treatment programs in past studies. Completion rates for this group studied were found to be moderately high compared to past studies. It was concluded that certain biographical and psychological variables can be used as selection criteria for determining alcoholics long term treatment completion. Implications for these findings are discussed.