This thesis utilized a multi-method approach to conduct exploratory research regarding the use and abuse of alcohol by midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy (USNA). Quantitative data were analyzed regarding midshipmen perceptions of abuse. Over 50% of midshipmen consider alcohol abuse as a problem at the Academy. Focus groups were conducted in order to gather qualitative data concerning midshipmen drinking behaviors. Midshipmen representing all four classes at USNA reported significant pressures not only to drink underage but to binge drink. The probability of binge drinking at USNA may be related to the fact that midshipmen are restricted in their use of alcohol; there exists an attitude that they need to make up for lost time by over-indulging when they do have the opportunity. Sixty-five percent of the female and 77% of the male midshipmen participants admitted binge drinking within the last six months (significantly higher than the national college average of 44%). Fear of jeopardizing future careers prevents midshipmen from getting the medical assistance they need for alcohol poisoning or concerns about alcohol dependency. Recommendations include "playing down" the novelty of drinking, providing more opportunities for responsible use, establishing alternate avenues for reporting midshipmen for medical help, holding the 1/c midshipmen accountable for modeling responsible alcohol use, and continuing to support the ADEO program and prevention education. / US Navy (USN) author.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University / This study will discuss the marital interaction of twelve couples in terms of the patterning of their needs, as these can be inferred from material presented to caseworkers in an outpatient clinic for the treatment of alcoholism.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University / This study is an investigation of the effects of alcohol ingestion on attention in alcoholics. Alcoholism is herein defined as alcohol ingestion, over which the individual exercises no control, in association with deterioration in marital or family relations, social status, or vocational activity for five or more years. Attention is defined as heightened accuracy in recognizing stimuli congruent with expectancies, where equally available incongruent material is less well recognized. Higher recognition of congruent than of incongruent signals is "narrow" focus of attention. Uniform accuracy in recognizing congruent and incongruent signals is "broad," or unfocused attention. Existing data indicates that relative narrowness of attention depends on the distinctiveness of stimulus qualities, and on personal capacities to develop and maintain attention-setting expectancies. Recent findings indicate alcoholics as a group may fail to narrow attention when directive qualities are lacking in the stimulus environment, and may therefore depend more on external stimulation than inner initiative for focusing attention [TRUNCATED]

Orientador: João Bosco Faria / Banca: Aureluce Demonte / Banca: Miriam Coelho de Souza / Resumo: O trabalho realizado teve como objetivo principal caracterizar epidemiologicamente a população de alcoolistas crônicos do hospital psiquiátrico de Araçatuba, S.P., e estimar o estado nutricional destes pacientes pela determinação do IMC por ocasião da internação hospitalar e verificar o efeito do período da abstinência, no estado nutricional, comparando-se com o IMC determinado na alta médica. A amostra foi de 33 pacientes que haviam sido diagnosticados como alcoolistas pelo CID10 e, a partir deste diagnóstico, foi aplicado uma anamnese geral com questões abertas e fechadas que incluem: dados sócio-econômicos-cultural, patologias associadas, presença do tabagismo, queixas freqüentes e tipo de bebida alcoólica consumida, o qual foi abordado somente ao fato do entrevistado já ter declarado fazer uso de tal bebida, já que o mesmo não é abstêmio à internação. Para avaliação do estado nutricional dos pacientes, foi realizado, no dia da internação, ou após dois dias, e no dia da alta meþdica, com consentimento do mesmo, uma avaliação antropométrica, e o achado do diagnóstico nutricional calculado a partir do Índice de Massa Corpórea (IMC), preconizado pela Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS), com as prevalências de eutrofia, desnutrição, sobrepeso ou obesidade. Os resultados do presente estudo mostram que os pacientes alcoolistas crônicos, internos do hospital psiquiátrico, são predominantemente homens, adulto jovens, com baixo grau de escolaridade (1° grau incompleto) e renda familiar de 0 a 2 salários mínimos, mostrando com base na revisão científica deste trabalho, ser este o perfil mais freqüente dos alcoolistas crônicos. O estado nutricional foi predominantemente eutrófico na internação e na alta médica não foi observada alteraão significativa no estado nutricional, mesmo com ganho ponderal e aumento de IMC. / Abstract: The main objective of this work is to describe epidemiologically the chronic alcoholic population from the psychiatric hospital in Araçatuba, SP, and to put the nutritional state of these patients, by the IMC determination of the hospitalization and check the effect of the absence period, in the nutritional state, comparing with the IMC determined to doctors. The sample was of 33 patients that had been diagnosed as alcoholic people by the CID10 and, since this diagnostic, it was applied a general activity with direct and indirect questions that include: social-economic and cultural information, common disease, the smoke presence, frequent complains and the kind of alcoholic drink they took, that was approached only the fact that the interviewee admitted to use alcoholic drinks. To make the assessment of the patients nutritional state, it was done, on the day of the internment, or after two days, and on the last day, with their conception, an anthropological assessment, and the found of the Nutritional Diagnostic is calculated from the IMC, admitted by the World Health Organization (WHO), with the characteristics of malnutrition, poor nutrition or over weight. The results of the previous studies show that the chronic alcoholic patients, who live in the psychiatric hospital, are most of the times, young adults, with a low school level (elementary school incomplete) and the familiar income is between 0 and 2 minimum wage, saying that this is frequent profile of the chronic alcoholic people. The Nutritional State was in a larger way malnutrition during the internment and when they left it was not detected any significant change in the nutritional state, even with a small win of weight and the increase of IMC. The alcoholism also involve important aspects of public health on the region, being this work an incentive to encourage the professionals to prevent this problem. / Mestre

Thesis (MPH)-- University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus), 2012. / Alcohol use and abuse is highly prevalent among university students and it is a major health concern for universities across the globe. It is important to identify students at risk of, and those who engage in heavy drinking and the reasons thereof so that early identification and referral for intervention can be made before students at risk suffer dire consequences. The aim .of this study was to determine the pattern of alcohol use among the health care science students at the University of Limpopo (Medunsa campus). A quantitative, cross-sectional approach was utilised. Data was gathered by the use of a self administered questionnaire. Stratified and cluster techniques were used to obtain the sample. Descriptive statistics was used to describe data and explore relationships. Relationships between variables of interest were established by using the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (rho). The prevalence of alcohol use among the participants was relatively low (23%). 15% of respondents were categorized as light drinkers, 3.5% moderate drinkers and 3.5% heavy drinkers. The respondents scored the lowest on the Peer Pressure motive for alcohol use (35.6%) and equal on the Personal Enjoyment and Tension Reduction category, both having mean scores of39% respectively. The Spearman's rho revealed statistically significant relationships among the different types of drinking categories and the following drinking motives: to experience a good time, to feel good, to cheer up and to ease when blamed. This studies finding revealed that the prevalence of alcohol use among health care science students at the University of Limpopo (Medunsa campus) was exceptionally low. The study also brought to light that social motives for drinking was the primary drinking motive and the correlations between the patterns and motives for drinking were only found among four sub categories from the drinkin motives sub-scales.

No description available.

Abstract not available

Alcohol use disorders are common and make a significant contribution to the burden of disease throughout the world. This is especially true among the younger age groups. Although these disorders are common, evidence suggests that those affected do not seek help for their disorders. In order to understand this, reviews of the treatment literature and the epidemiological data on prevalence and correlates of alcohol use disorders and treatment seeking are presented. These reviews confirm that effective treatments exist and that screening in primary care can be efficacious. The reviews also highlight deficits such as the need for more epidemiological evidence on the validity of DSM definitions of alcohol use disorders and for more Australian data on the prevalence and correlates of the disorders and related treatment seeking. This thesis sets out to address these deficits applying sophisticated statistical techniques to data from a large nationally representative Australian sample. A confirmatory factor analysis of the eleven criteria that specify alcohol dependence and abuse examined the validity of DSM-IV definitions of alcohol use disorders and the best solution was found to be a single factor, not two as currently defined. These findings question the bi-axial nature of alcohol use disorders that has underpinned their definition since the publication of DSM-III-R in 1987. Data from this national sample also confirm that, in line with research from other western countries, Australians have high levels of alcohol use disorders, especially amongst males and younger people. Also no association was found between alcohol dependence and treatment seeking, and young people were least likely to seek treatment. However, a relatively large proportion of young people who drink had been in contact with their GPs in the past year; demonstrating that there is ample opportunity for screening and referral for treatment for alcohol use disorders in this vulnerable group. This research has found that although alcohol disorders are not necessarily associated with disability, there are those who can benefit from treatment. It suggests that outcomes for such individuals may be improved by better specification of disorders as well as improved access to best treatments.

Graduation date: 1953