Co-occurrence of Psychiatric Disorders and Alcoholism in Untreated Alcoholic Patients in a VA Medical Walk-in (Triage) Clinic Population

The authors identified 1,836 male veterans who were seeking treatment for various medical disorders at a walk-in (triage) clinic and screened these patients for the presence of alcohol problems by administering a brief interview and the CAGE questionnaire. Patients who screened positive for alcohol problems and who had little or no prior treatment for these problems were then interviewed using a structured psychiatric interview to establish the presence of alcohol dependence and co-occurring psychiatric disorders. The rate of alcohol dependence and co-occurring disorders was substantial, and the pattern was consistent with studies of veteran patients surveyed in other clinical settings.