Health locus of control in problem drinkers with and without liver disease

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether patients who developed alcoholic liver disease have more awareness of the link between their behaviour and subsequent health than patients with non-alcoholic liver disease and people with drink problems with no liver disease. This study included three groups of patients, alcoholic liver disease (ALD) (n = 57), non-alcoholic liver disease (n = 77), and problem drinkers with no liver disease attending a London community day treatment centre (ACCEPT) (n = 115). Health locus of control differentiates people into two groups, health externals who are individuals who maintain that their health is largely determined by external factors, as opposed to health internals, who believe that their behaviour plays a major role in determining their subsequent health or illness. The results of the Health Locus of Control (HLC) scale administered to the above subjects suggested that the ALD group had limited insight into the relationship between their drinking and subsequent liver disease, compared to the ACCEPT group. It is suggested that alcoholic liver disease patients receive counselling as part of their total management.