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Bratu ML, Sandesc D, Anghel T, Dehelean L, Bondrescu M, Bratosin F, Tudor R. Quality of Life Assessment Using the WHOQOL-BREF Survey in Hospitalized Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder from Romania. Diseases 2024; 12:158. [PMID: 39057129 PMCID: PMC11276466 DOI: 10.3390/diseases12070158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2024] [Revised: 06/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
This cross-sectional analysis aimed to assess the quality of life (QoL) among hospitalized patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) in Romania, utilizing the WHOQOL survey. Conducted from January to December 2023 in the Psychiatry Clinic of the "Pius Brinzeu" Emergency Clinical Hospital in Timisoara, this study engaged 70 participants, adhering to ethical standards outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. Employing the WHOQOL-BREF instrument, the research hypothesized that AUD patients would show significantly lower QoL scores across its domains compared to general population norms. The study focused on identifying the QoL domains most impacted by AUD, exploring correlations between QoL scores and AUD background characteristics, and pinpointing intervention areas for patient care improvement. Participants were predominantly males (88.57%) with a middle-aged average of 55.51 years. Educational backgrounds varied, with a notable percentage having attended college (44.29%) or university (17.14%). Regarding marital status, 41.43% were married. Comorbidities were present in 52.86% of the sample, with hypertension being the most common (34.29%). Results showed mean QoL scores in the physical (61.84 ± 16.05), psychological (64.11 ± 17.16), social (60.48 ± 24.85), and environmental (68.44 ± 17.34) domains, revealing a significant diversity in satisfaction levels across these areas. Statistical analyses highlighted marital status as significantly associated with a better QoL in the physical domain, with married, co-habiting, and divorced participants reporting higher scores compared to single ones. In conclusion, while AUD significantly affects the QoL of hospitalized patients in Romania, marital status emerges as a critical factor in mitigating these effects, particularly in the physical domain of QoL. These findings underscore the complexity of AUD's impact on QoL and the importance of considering sociodemographic factors in patient care practices and interventions. The study contributes valuable insights into the nuanced relationship between AUD and QoL, proposing a foundation for enhancing care outcomes for AUD patients in Romania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melania Lavinia Bratu
- Center for Neuropsychology and Behavioral Medicine, Department of Psychology, Faculty of General Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- Doctoral School, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Center for Cognitive Research in Neuropsychiatric Pathology, Department of Neurosciences, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (L.D.); (M.B.)
| | - Dorel Sandesc
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Teodora Anghel
- Department of Neurosciences-Psychiatry, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Methodological and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Liana Dehelean
- Center for Cognitive Research in Neuropsychiatric Pathology, Department of Neurosciences, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (L.D.); (M.B.)
- Department of Neurosciences-Psychiatry, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Mariana Bondrescu
- Center for Cognitive Research in Neuropsychiatric Pathology, Department of Neurosciences, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (L.D.); (M.B.)
- Department of Neurosciences-Psychiatry, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Felix Bratosin
- Methodological and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Raluca Tudor
- Second Discipline of Neurology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
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Flanagan JC, Leone RM, Melkonian AJ, Jarnecke AM, Hogan JN, Massa AA. Effects of alcohol problem discrepancy on relationship adjustment: The moderating role of conflict negotiation among couples with alcohol use disorder and intimate partner violence. FAMILY PROCESS 2023. [PMID: 37148131 DOI: 10.1111/famp.12891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) has well-known negative effects on romantic relationship functioning, including the occurrence of intimate partner violence (IPV). A separate literature focused on community couples indicates that relationship functioning is more likely to suffer when partners report greater discrepancies in alcohol consumption. It is important to expand this literature to couples with AUD and to examine the role of impactful AUD domains in dyadic functioning. Furthermore, few studies have examined adaptive, treatment-malleable factors that could potentially offset the negative impact of alcohol discrepancies on relationship functioning. This study examined the association between couples' alcohol problem discrepancies and relationship adjustment, as well as the moderating effect of self-reported adaptive conflict negotiation behaviors. Participants were 100 couples (N = 200 individual participants) with intimate partner violence wherein at least one partner met diagnostic criteria for AUD. Actor-Partner Interdependence Models indicated that greater alcohol problem discrepancy was associated with lower dyadic adjustment. Moderation analyses revealed that the highest level of relationship adjustment was observed among couples with lower alcohol problem discrepancy and greater negotiation behaviors, while relationship adjustment was similar for couples with larger alcohol problem discrepancy, regardless of negotiation behaviors. Although further study is needed to clarify under what specific conditions adaptive negotiation behaviors are most helpful, they appear to be beneficial for some couples in this sample. We found no evidence that negotiation behaviors may be harmful among these high-risk couples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julianne C Flanagan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Ruschelle M Leone
- Department of Health Policy & Behavioral Sciences and Mark Chaffin Center for Healthy Development, School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Alexander J Melkonian
- Department of Family Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee, USA
| | - Amber M Jarnecke
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Jasara N Hogan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Andrea A Massa
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
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Cucciare MA, Han X, Timko C. Predictors of alcohol use disorder treatment outcomes over 12 months: Role of concerned others' functioning and Al-Anon participation. Drug Alcohol Depend 2022; 238:109546. [PMID: 35780624 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study included dyads comprised of adults entering treatment for alcohol use disorder and their Concerned Others (COs) to examine indicators of COs functioning (Al-Anon attendance and involvement, relationship stressors, use of approach coping and stigma) as predictors of patient outcomes (Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) attendance and involvement, abstinence and risk of substance use) over 12 months following adults' entry into AUD treatment. METHODS Dyads (n = 279) were assessed when patients entered treatment and at 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Data were collected through participants' self-report. Lagged generalized linear mixed models were used to examine associations between indicators of COs' functioning at baseline, 3- and 6-month follow-ups and patients' outcomes at 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-ups. RESULTS Patients reported less AA attendance and involvement and likelihood of maintaining abstinence from alcohol use over time. Findings from our multivariate analysis showed that any CO involvement in Al-Anon, relative to none, was associated with more patient AA attendance. In contrast, more stigma (e.g., need to hide patient's drinking) reported by COs was associated with lower patient AA participation and involvement, while more CO use of approach coping was associated with less patient risk for alcohol and drug use. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that COs' functioning can affect longer-term outcomes of adults entering AUD treatment. Treatment programs should increase the availability of help to COs to improve their functioning and patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Cucciare
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA; Center for Mental Healthcare and Outcomes Research, Central Arkansas Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR 72205, USA; Veterans Affairs South Central Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.
| | - Xiaotong Han
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA; Center for Mental Healthcare and Outcomes Research, Central Arkansas Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR 72205, USA; Veterans Affairs South Central Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.
| | - Christine Timko
- Center for Innovation to Implementation, Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and family functioning are inextricably bound, and families are impacted negatively by AUD, but families show substantial improvements with AUD recovery. Family members can successfully motivate a person with AUD to initiate changes in drinking or to seek AUD treatment. During recovery, family members can provide active support for recovery. Several couple- or family-involved treatments for AUD have been developed and tested in rigorous efficacy trials. Efficacious treatments based in family systems theory or cognitive behavioral approaches focus on the concerned family member alone, or they engage the couple or family as a unit in the treatment. However, most treatments have been studied in fairly homogeneous, heterosexual, White, non-Hispanic populations, limiting the potential generalizability of these treatments. Substantial gaps remain in our understanding of family processes associated with the initiation and maintenance of AUD recovery among adults. This review outlines the existing literature and describes opportunities for future research to address knowledge gaps in understanding the mechanisms by which these treatments are efficacious, use of family-based treatments with diverse populations, integration of pharmacotherapies with family-involved treatment, role of families in recovery-oriented systems of care, and how to improve treatment development and dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara S. McCrady
- Department of Psychology and Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, and Addictions, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Julianne C. Flanagan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina,Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina
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