A retrospective analysis of alcohol consumption on laboratory tasks as related to therapeutic outcome

The relationship between drinking on laboratory-analogue measures at the onset of inpatient alcoholism treatment and abstinence subsequent to treatment was examined. Twenty therapeutically successful and 20 unsuccessful chronic alcoholics were selected and did not differ on age, education, length of problem drinking, and length of follow-up. Retrospective analysis of responding on an operant drinking task and a ‘taste test’ assessment technique revealed significant differences between the groups, with successful patients drinking less than the unsuccessful ones. Implications for screening candidates for alcoholism treatment programs are discussed.