Aim: Based on a comprehensive survey among patients of general hospital departments, the data relating to addictive behaviours were analyzed in this publication.
Method: A questionnaire screening was performed involving general, demographic questions, and psychiatric rating scales in 9 Hungarian general hospitals. Data provided by 2485 patients were included in the analysis. Alcohol consumption was evaluated using the CAGE questionnaire.
Results: The prevalence of smoking was 28.5% in the total population, and ranged between 14.5% and 37.3% in the different hospital departments. 25.4% of the patients are at risk of developing alcoholism, and 4.4% can be regarded to be alcohol dependent. These data correspond well with former results obtained from the general Hungarian population. The highest prevalences measured with the CAGE questionnaire were found in the departments of pulmonology, surgery, traumatology, and orthopedics.
Conclusions: The data obtained in this study help determine the segments of health care that are mostly affected by addictive disorders from the perspective of consultation-liaison psychiatry.