Aim of this paper, based on data collected at the General Hospital Psychiatric Unit of Pavia (Italy), is to study comorbidity between alcohol abuse/dependence and other mental illness. Thirty-five out of 188 patients admitted during the study period received a (DSM-III-R) diagnosis of alcohol abuse/ dependence and an other psychiatric diagnosis. Data were collected through a questionnaire, from patients and relatives, about history of dependence, psychiatric history both in patients and relatives, about life style and drinking opinions. Psycho-diagnostic (Wechsler, Rorschach) informations were obtained for 29 patients. Results show the importance of a complex treatment for both psychiatric and alcoholic problems.