Sedative‐Hypnotic and Alcohol Dependence among Psychiatric In‐Patients

Abstract The frequency of dependence on sedative‐hypnotics and alcohol in psychiatric in‐patients from a region of Stockholm during one year was determined. One‐half of all males and one‐fourth of all females had dependency problems. Exclusive alcohol dependence was found in 24 per cent of all patients, exclusive sedative‐hypnotics dependence in 3 per cent and a combined alcohol/sedative‐hypnotic dependence in 9 per cent. Middle‐aged males dominated markedly the alcohol‐dependent group, while middle‐age females tended to be over‐represented in the sedative‐hypnotic dependents clientele. Among the dependent patients, 14 per cent were not officially diagnosed as such. The number of dependent females, as well as that of sedative‐hypnotic dependents, constitute significant increases in comparison with previous studies.