The content of endogenic ethanol (EE) and acetaldehyde (AcA) in blood, excretion of catecholamines (CA) with urine and their content in blood, functional activity of vegetative nerve system and central nerve system were studied in patients with chronic alcoholism in the period of short-term remission. It is shown that the formation and development of chronic alcoholism is accompanied by the shift of the relation AcA/EE towards the progressive accumulation of AcA, disturbances in CA metabolism, shifts in the activity of vegetative nerve system and CNS. Data obtained in the work evidence for the important role of disturbances in metabolic processes (especially E metabolism, as well as CA) in pathogenesis of alcohol dependence.