BERLIN, April 9 -- The mortality of alcohol-dependent patients in general hospitals is many times higher than that of patients without alcohol dependency, a study has shown.

The study, published in the journal European Psychiatry, was carried out by scientists from the department of psychiatry and psychotherapy at the University of Bonn Hospital in Germanyand their British colleagues, using patient data from various general hospitals in Manchester, England.

"During the observation period, approximately one out of five hospital patients with alcohol problems died in one of the hospitals, while only one out of twelve patients in the control group died," said Prof. Reinhard Heun from the Royal Derby Hospital in Manchester.

The study also found out that alcoholics who were treated in British general hospitals for health problems die an average of 7.6 years earlier than non-alcohol dependent patients due to the interaction of several concomitant physical illnesses.

"Mental problems as well as significant physical health impairments are associated with alcohol addiction," said Dr. Dieter Schoepf of the University of Bonn Hospital.

According to the scientists, typically, persons affected tend to deny their addiction and suffer from withdrawal symptoms and the habituation to alcohol consumption increases. Moreover, alcoholism leads to changes in personality as well as to family and workplace problems.

Meanwhile, a total of 27 physical illnesses occur more often in patients with alcohol addiction: liver, pancreas, airways, gastrointestinal tract and the nervous system, said the study.

Therefore, the researchers are calling for earlier and more intensive psychotherapeutic support for persons with alcohol addictions.

"Through diligent screening and early treatment of concomitant mental and physical illnesses, it should be possible to significantly increase the life expectancy of alcoholic patients," said Heun.