CLINICAL COURSE OF ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE

In 47 subjects having alcohol dependence syndrome, the progression of alcohol related milestones was studied in terms of age-at-onset of each milestone. The findings revealed a definable progression with three phases. The early phase, characterized by the absence of any problem, ended with the use of 1/4th bottle of spirit a day, more than once-a-week. The middle phase began with daily drinking, ended with the use of 1 bottle of spirit a day, and was characterized mainly by social problems. The late phase began with the onset of morning drinking, and was characterized by the addition of physical problems. These findings support the earlier research suggesting a definable progression of alcoholism. However the physiology identified by the present study is unlike that reported by some of the earlier research.