Medicina Clinica
Volume 126, Issue 7, 2006, Pages 250-252

Alcolism and immigration. Adherence of immigrant patients to group therapy [Alcoholismo e inmigración. Adherencia de los pacientes inmigrantes a la terapia grupal] (Article)

Monras M.* , Freixa N. , Ortega L. , Pineda P. , González À. , Gual A.
  • a Unidad de Alcohología, Institut Clinic de Neurociències, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain, Unidad de Alcohología, Recinto Hospital Casa Maternidad, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Mejía Lequerica, 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
  • b Unidad de Alcohología, Institut Clinic de Neurociències, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain
  • c Unidad de Alcohología, Institut Clinic de Neurociències, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain
  • d Unidad de Alcohología, Institut Clinic de Neurociències, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain
  • e Unidad de Alcohología, Institut Clinic de Neurociències, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain
  • f Unidad de Alcohología, Institut Clinic de Neurociències, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Group therapy (GT) is considered a cornerstone in the treatment of alcohol dependence. Increasing numbers of foreigners are accessing alcohol treatment facilities, but efficacy of TG in those patients has not been studied. This work focuses on the influence of ethnicity and language in the compliance of GT. PATIENTS AND METHOD: 1856 consecutive patients who were referred to GT for alcohol dependence were followed until discharge or dropout. Time on treatment and final endpoint were compared according to place of birth. RESULTS: 31% of patients born in Barcelona, 39% born in Catalonia, 27% from the rest of Spain and 14.5% of foreigners (20% from Europe, 4% from America and none born in Africa (p = 0.02) completed successfully GT. The probability to stay in GT was 351, 412, 320 and 212 days (p = 0.000), respectively DISCUSSION: Patients born abroad have lower chances to complete GT successfully, presenting with higher dropout rates and shorter treatments. The low compliance found in South American patients (who share a common language) and the better compliance found in Europeans (who are also a bit older) suggest that dropout is probably more related to social integration than to language problems.

Author Keywords

Alcoholism Treatment refusal Ethnic groups Emigration and immigration Group psychotherapy

Index Keywords

immigrant immigration human linguistics ethnic group group therapy Aged alcoholism psychotherapy male Spain female Article integration patient compliance major clinical study adult drug dependence treatment treatment refusal high risk patient
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33644948430&doi=10.1157%2f13085284&partnerID=40&md5=cc392e539c770caa2c0639905aa4aeed
DOI: 10.1157/13085284
ISSN: 00257753
Cited by: 4
Original Language: Spanish