NATION : Kitty Dukakis in Psychiatric Unit

Kitty Dukakis, a recovering alcoholic, was discharged from Brigham and Women’s Hospital today and transferred to New England Deaconess Hospital’s affective disorders unit, the governor’s office said.

Affective disorder is a psychiatric term referring to such problems as depression. Mrs. Dukakis’ doctor has said she suffers from depression.

Mrs. Dukakis, who was admitted to Brigham and Women’s on Nov. 6 after drinking a small amount of rubbing alcohol, was transferred for evaluation and treatment planning, her husband’s office said.

Gov. Michael S. Dukakis said Monday his wife had “a slip,” or a relapse back into drinking when she swallowed the rubbing alcohol. Mrs. Dukakis was treated for alcoholism last March. She had earlier admitted to a dependency on diet pills.