Psychiatric Comorbidity in Alcohol Dependence: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Tertiary Care Setting (original) (raw)

A study of psychiatric comorbidity in alcohol dependence

Indian journal of psychiatry, 2003

The diagnosis of comorbid psychiatric conditions have important clinical ramifications as the outcome is poorer with multiple disorders. Various studies have shown that alcohol abuse has severe adverse effects on the course of metal illness and vice versa. Only a little data on the subject are available from our country. We interviewed 30 patients suffering from alcohol dependence using SCID - I & SCID - II. Seventy six percent of the sample had axis - I comorbid diagnosis and 40% had an axis -II diagnoses. Depressive disorder and cluster B personality disorders were the most common comorbid diagnosis.

Psychiatric Comorbidity Among Alcohol Dependents

Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, 2004

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted over a 6-month period. The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI, version 5) was used to assess psychiatric comorbidity in 101 (male, n = 65; 64.5%) alcohol-dependent patients. Interviews were conducted after the first week of admission to ward 13. Results: Most participants (n = 63, 62.4%) had a co-occurring psychiatric disorder, the most common being major depressive (n = 30, 29.7%) and anxiety disorders (n = 43, 42.6%). Of the anxiety disorders, agoraphobia without a history of panic disorder (n = 10, 9.9%) and social phobia (n = 10, 9.9%) occurred most frequently, followed by generalised anxiety disorder (n = 9, 8.9%) and post-traumatic stress disorder (n = 9, 8.9%). Thirteen patients (13%) had a comorbid substance use disorder other than AUD. Conclusion: The prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity at this unit is high, especially among female patients. The findings emphasise a need to thoroughly assess patients and provide treatment and personnel who can manage the complex needs of a dual diagnosis patient population.

Comorbidity and risk indicators for alcohol use disorders among persons with anxiety and/or depressive disorders

Journal of Affective Disorders, 2011

This study examines comorbidity of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence as well as its risk indicators among anxious and/or depressed persons, also considering temporal sequencing of disorders. Methods: Baseline data from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA) were used, including 2329 persons with lifetime DSM-IV anxiety (social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and agoraphobia) and/or depressive (major depressive disorder and dysthymia) disorders and 652 controls. Lifetime diagnoses of DSM-IV alcohol abuse and dependence were established, as well as information about socio-demographic, vulnerability, addiction-related and anxiety/depression-related characteristics. Temporal sequencing of disorders was established retrospectively, using age of onset. Results: Of persons with combined anxiety/depression 20.3% showed alcohol dependence versus 5.5% of controls. Prevalence of alcohol abuse was similar across groups (± 12%). Independent risk indicators for alcohol dependence among anxious and/or depressed persons were male gender, vulnerability factors (family history of alcohol dependence, family history of anxiety/depression, openness to experience, low conscientiousness, being single, and childhood trauma), addiction-related factors (smoking and illicit drug use) and early anxiety/depression onset. Persons with secondary alcohol dependence were more neurotic, more often single and lonelier, while persons with primary alcohol dependence were more often male and more extravert. Discussion: Alcohol dependence, but not abuse, is more prevalent in anxious and/or depressed persons. Persons with comorbid alcohol dependence constitute a distinct subgroup of anxious and/or depressed persons, characterized by addiction-related habits and vulnerability. However, considerable variation in characteristics exists depending on temporal sequencing of disorders. This knowledge may improve identification and treatment of those anxious and/or depressed patients who are additionally suffering from alcohol dependence.

Comorbidity of alcoholism and psychiatric disorders: an overview

Alcohol Research and …, 2002

Alcohol abuse and dependence frequently occur with other psychiatric conditions; this dual diagnosis is called comorbidity. Professionals working with comorbid patients face unique and challenging dilemmas about how to provide the best treatment to address both conditions. Despite ...

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Psychiatric Comorbidity in Patients with Alcohol Dependence Syndrome

Journal of Evidence Based Medicine and Healthcare, 2015

This study was designed to find the prevalence of psychiatric co morbities in patients with alcohol dependence and to assess the risk factors for the same. All the patients with alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS) who presented during the study period were screened. ADS were diagnosed as per ICD-10 criteria. All the patients underwent detailed clinical and neuropsychiatric evaluation. BPRS (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale) was used to assess psychiatric comorbidities and MINI Scale (Mini International Neuropsychiatry Interview) to assess suicidality. Of the 100 patients with ADS identified during the study period, 14(14%) were diagnosed as having psychiatric comorbity. Patients with psychiatric comorbidity were more likely to have a history of past DSH (Deliberate self-harm) attempt. The patients with psychiatric comorbidity also had higher suicidality scores. All patients with alcoholism must be evaluated for comorbid psychiatric problems and suicide risk.

A study of psychiatric co-morbidity among alcohol dependents

International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 2017

Background: The alcohol use disorders are frequently associated with other co-morbid psychiatric disorders. The aim of this study was to describe the demographic variables, drinking history and psychiatric co-morbidity in alcohol dependent subjects. Methods: In this study, 40 consecutive patients were enrolled. After a minimum 1 month of sobriety, patients who fulfilled ICD-10 criteria of alcohol dependence were interviewed for data collection using Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), MINI-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) (Version-6.0) and a specially designed sociodemographic and clinical interview proforma. Subjects with substance use except tobacco were excluded from study. Main group comparison used chi-square test for categorical variables and the t-test for continuous variables. Results: Most of the patients studied were >40 years of age. Majority were employed (92%), lived in nuclear families (78%) and came from rural background (77.5%). Forty five percent of the patients initiated alcohol drinking between 16-25 years and reported peer pressure (50%) as most significant factor responsible for initiation of drinking alcohol. Mean age of developing alcohol dependence was 25.12 years (SD=4.28). Mean AUDIT score for subjects was 27.7 (SD=4.73). Lifetime psychiatric co-morbid disorders were detected in 45%. Psychiatric disorders most frequently associated with alcohol dependence were major depressive disorder (10%), bipolar affective disorder (7.5%), dysthymia (5%), anxiety disorders (7.5%) and antisocial personality disorder (5%). Conclusion: The study indicates that psychiatric disorders are prevalent in alcohol dependents and mood disorders are the most prevalent ones. It was also observed that co-morbid psychiatric disorders are associated with more severe alcohol problems.

Alcohol use disorders comorbid with anxiety, depression and drug use disorders

Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 2002

The aim of this paper is to report the prevalence of 12-month comorbidity between DSM-IV alcohol use disorders (abuse or dependence) and anxiety, affective and drug use disorders in the adult Australian general population and to examine the disability and health service utilisation associated with this comorbidity. The study uses data from the National Survey of Mental Health and Well Being (NSMH&WB). The NSMH&WB is a cross-sectional survey of 10,641 Australian adults conducted in 1997 that measured the prevalence of DSM-IV mental disorders in the previous 12 months and associated disability and health service utilisation. Results show approximately one-third of respondents with an alcohol use disorder (abuse or dependence) met criteria for at least one comorbid mental disorder in the previous 12 months. They were 10 times more likely to have a drug use disorder, four times more likely to have an affective disorder and three times more likely to have an anxiety disorder. Respondents with an alcohol use disorder and a comorbid mental disorder were significantly more disabled and higher users of health services than respondents with an alcohol disorder and no comorbid mental disorders. These results reinforce the need for both mental health and drug and alcohol professionals to be provided with education to assist with appropriate identification, management and referral of clients presenting with this complex range of disorders. #

Influence of psychiatric comorbidity in alcohol-dependent subjects in a representative population survey on treatment utilization and natural recovery

Addiction, 2005

Background It is well known that only a minority of alcohol-dependent subjects seek help and that the majority of alcohol-dependent individuals recover without utilization of formal help. Psychiatric comorbidity is highly prevalent among alcohol-dependent individuals. However, no data are available on the impact of psychiatric comorbidity on natural recovery.Aims To analyse the impact of non-psychotic psychiatric comorbid Axis I disorders on remission rate and utilization of formal help in alcohol-dependent individuals drawn from a representative general population sample in northern Germany (response rate: 70.2%, n = 4075). Psychiatric diagnoses and utilization of help were assessed in a personal interview using standardized instruments. One hundred and fifty-three life-time alcohol-dependent individuals were assessed, among whom 98 fulfilled the criteria for sustained long-term remission according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual version II (DSM-IV) criteria. Any coincidence of DSM-IV non-psychotic Axis I disorders with alcohol dependence was counted as comorbidity. Comorbidity rate in the whole sample was 36.1%.Results The rate of individuals who remitted from alcohol dependence without formal help was 36.9% in the non-comorbid and 42.6% in the comorbid group. Utilization of formal help was unrelated to comorbidity. Dually diagnosed subjects without a history of help-seeking showed minor differences concerning reasons for not seeking help. Seeking help was not related to schooling, severity of dependence and gender.Conclusion Data reveal that remission without formal help is equally prevalent among non-comorbid as among comorbid alcohol-dependent individuals. Axis I comorbidity is not related directly to utilization of alcohol-related help. Negative prognoses for untreated comorbid alcohol-dependent individuals are not justified from an epidemiological point of view.

Co-morbid anxiety disorders predict early relapse after inpatient alcohol treatment

European Psychiatry, 2014

Introduction: Alcohol dependence and anxiety disorders often co-occur. Yet, the effect of co-morbid anxiety disorders on the alcohol relapse-risk after treatment is under debate. This study investigated the effect of co-morbid anxiety disorders on relapse rates in alcohol dependence. We hypothesized that comorbid anxiety disorders would be particularly predictive for early relapse, but not late relapse. Subjects and methods: In a prospective design, male alcohol dependent patients (n = 189) were recruited from an inpatient detoxification clinic. Psychiatric diagnoses and personality traits were assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for psychiatric disorders and the Temperament and Character Inventory. The addiction severity index was used to assess addiction severity and follow-up. Results: One year after detoxification, 81 patients (53%) relapsed and nine patients (7%) were deceased, due to alcohol related causes. Co-morbid anxiety disorder, marital status, addiction severity, in particular legal problems, and harm avoidance predicted relapse. Anxiety disorders specifically predicted early relapse. Conclusion: Alcohol dependence is a severe mental disorder, with high relapse rates and high mortality. Alcohol dependent patients with co-morbid anxiety disorders are particularly prone to relapse during the first three months of treatment. These patients may therefore require additional medical and psychological attention. ß