Quality of life measures in alcohol dependent subjects and changes with abstinence and continued heavy drinking

Poor subjective sleep predicts compromised quality of life but not cognitive impairment in abstinent individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder

How disrupted sleep contributes to cognitive dysfunction over the dynamic course of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is an emerging topic of investigation. Here, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to evaluate subjective sleep in 90 individuals with AUD sober for an average of 3 months and in 50 healthy controls. Relative to controls, AUD individuals had higher global PSQI scores (worse sleep), higher scores on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), worse Quality of Life (QoL) indicators, and poorer performance on cognitive composite tests (executive functioning, attention and working memory, visual and verbal learning or memory). Among AUD individuals, a higher PSQI score correlated with a higher BDI scores and worse QoL, but not with cognitive scales. Also noted in the AUD group were higher global PSQI scores in individuals also diagnosed with major depressive (MDD) or generalized anxiety (GAD) disorders. Together, the 4 variables explained 29.8% of the variance in AUD PSQI scores. In women with AUD, the 4 factors explained 39.3% of the variance in PSQI scores; in AUD men, the 4 measures explained 19.9% of the variance: MDD was salient in women, QoL in men with AUD suggesting differential factors associate with poor sleep in men and women with AUD even with sustained alcohol abstinence. Here, global PSQI scores were related to clinical diagnoses and life functioning but failed to predict cognitive performance in abstinent AUD individuals.

Health Behaviors and Health-Related Quality of Life Among U.S. Adults Aged 18-64 Years

INTRODUCTION

This study aims to (1) describe the prevalence and clustering of 3 health behaviors, (2) examine the association between individual health behaviors and health-related quality of life, and (3) explore the association between the clustering of the health behaviors and health-related quality of life.

METHODS

Investigators analyzed a sample of U.S. adults aged 18-64 years using data from the 2016-2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey in March 2020. Logistic regression models examined the associations among 3 healthy behaviors (currently not smoking, physical activity, and nonheavy alcohol consumption) and 4 indicators of health-related quality of life (general health, physical health, mental health, and activity limitation). Alpha was set at 0.01.

RESULTS

A total of 450,870 individuals were included in the analysis (weighted n=100,102,329). Of these, 82.0% were current nonsmokers, 92.8% were nonheavy drinkers, and 77.6% reported physical activity. The prevalence of having none, 1, 2, and 3 of the health behaviors was 0.7%, 7.7%, 30.1%, and 61.5%, respectively. Smoking status and physical activity status were significantly associated with all the 4 health-related quality of life indicators. Alcohol status was significantly associated with mental health and activity limitation. The associations demonstrated a higher health-related quality of life among individuals who reported healthy behaviors than among those who did not engage in healthy behaviors. Compared with respondents who reported none of the health behaviors, people with all 3 health behaviors were more likely to report higher health-related quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

Health behaviors were significantly associated with health-related quality of life among U.S. adults. Healthy behaviors should be encouraged because adopting these behaviors may contribute to a higher health-related quality of life.

The Auckland alcohol detoxification outcome study: Measuring changes in quality of life in individuals completing a medicated withdrawal from alcohol in a detoxification unit

AIM

To measure outcomes in Quality of Life in alcohol dependent patients' following a medicated withdrawal from alcohol.

METHODS

79 patients that were admitted to a detoxification unit in Auckland, New Zealand between March 2016 and September 2016 were assessed for severity of alcohol dependence using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and Severity of Alcohol Dependency Questionnaire (SADQ) and Quality of Life (QOL) using the World Health Organisation Quality of Life-abbreviated version of the WHOQOL 100 New Zealand version (WHOQOL-BREF NZ). Patients were followed up at three months and 12 months and an estimate of drinking behavior and the WHO-QOL BREF NZ were completed via telephone interview. QOL domain scores were assessed from baseline to three months and baseline to 12 months in both relapse and abstinent groups. At three months, a single question was asked in order to collect qualitative data.

RESULTS

At baseline, the study population had statistically significantly lower mean QOL domain scores than scores reported from the general population. QOL improved in patients following detoxification at three months and 12 months in both the relapse and abstinent groups; however, the change in scores from baseline was greater in the abstinent group compared to the relapse group. The majority of patients reported that the admission had been a positive experience.

CONCLUSION

QOL improves in individuals following a medicated withdrawal from alcohol regardless of whether individual's relapse; however, those that remain abstinent have greater improvements in quality of life.

Hitting rock bottom? Resource loss as a predictor of alcoholism treatment completion

Background Efforts to better understand the phenomenon of the 'bottom', the beginning of the process of turning away from alcohol, are important for both theoretical and practical goals. The conservation of resources theory by Hobfoll may represent a suitable framework to base these attempts around. Aim The aim of the study was to examine the role of resource loss in completing alcoholism treatment on the basis of Hobfoll's conservation of resources theory. Methods The study included 86 patients undergoing inpatient alcoholism treatment. An assessment of resource loss and gain during the previous year, as well as of the decisional balance regarding the pros and cons of drinking alcohol, took place at the beginning of therapy. Results The results of hierarchical binary logistic regression confirmed that resource loss was the only significant predictor of therapy completion, after adjustment for decisional balance, demographics and basic clinical data. Additionally, gender moderated the relationship between resource gain and therapy completion: while an increase in gain was related to a decreased chance of completing therapy in men, the opposite effect was noted in women. Conclusions Resource loss has more influence than decisional balance in predicting therapy completion, which can be translated into clinically valid recommendations based on gender differences.

The Effects of Alcohol Dependence on the Quality of Life and Sex Life of Women

BACKGROUND

Alcohol dependence is a multi-dimensional and chronic disorder which affects the physical, psychological, social, sexual health and thus the quality of life of the individual.

OBJECTIVES

This research was designed in order to determine the effect of alcohol dependence on the quality of life and sexual life of women.

METHODS

The research was a cross-sectional and comparative relation study, consisting of a case study group constituted of women who consulted Prof. Dr. Mazhar Osman Mental Health and Disorders Training and Research Hospital's Alcohol and Substance Research, Treatment, Education Center between July 2009 and July 2010 and who were diagnosed as alcohol addicted and a healthy group, constituted of women who consulted the Gynecology Clinic of the same hospital (alcohol dependent group = 71, healthy group = 183). The data were collected using 'World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Brief Form' (WHOQOL-BREF TR), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Data were analyzed by percentage, mean, chi-square, student's t-test, and multivariate analysis by use of SPSS 13.0 program.

RESULTS

It was determined that the alcohol-dependent women presented lower WHOQOL-BREF-TR sub-dimensions and lower FSFI total scores and sub-dimensions but higher scores in BDI scale in comparison to the healthy group.

CONCLUSIONS

The alcohol dependence negatively affects the quality of life and sexual life in women.

Quality of life, alcohol detoxification and relapse: is quality of life a predictor of relapse or only a secondary outcome measure?

PURPOSE

To estimate variations in Overall Quality Of Life (OQOL) within 12 months following alcohol detoxification and to evaluate the predictive value of OQOL for relapse and alcohol use severity.

METHODS

Alcohol use disorders and four OQOL domains (physical health, psychological health, social relationships and environment) were assessed in 199 patients entering in-patient alcohol detoxification. Follow-up assessments were performed at 6 and 12 months after discharge. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses explored the relationship between OQOL and alcohol use severity, examining differences between abstinent and relapsed patients. The predictive value of OQOL was analyzed by logistic and linear regression.

RESULTS

Correlation between OQOL and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test scores was confirmed at all stages of observation. Abstinent patients showed a significant improvement in all OQOL domains at 6 months after discharge, whereas OQOL domains did not undergo any significant change in relapsed patients. Baseline OQOL did not prove to be predictive of either relapse or alcohol use severity.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall quality of life changed in parallel with alcohol use severity throughout the duration of the study, confirming it to be a useful and sensitive measure of secondary outcome for alcohol detoxification. Conversely, none of the OQOL baseline scores functioned as predictors of relapse within 12 months following discharge or alcohol use severity in relapsed patients.

Quality of life depends on the drinking pattern in alcohol-dependent patients

AIMS

In patients with alcohol dependence, health-related quality of life (QOL) is reduced compared with that of a normal healthy population. The objective of the current analysis was to describe the evolution of health-related QOL in adults with alcohol dependence during a 24-month period after initial assessment for alcohol-related treatment in a routine practice setting, and its relation to drinking pattern which was evaluated across clusters based on the predominant pattern of alcohol use, set against the influence of baseline variables

METHODS

The Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Survey (MOS-SF-36) was used to measure QOL at baseline and quarterly for 2 years among participants in CONTROL, a prospective observational study of patients initiating treatment for alcohol dependence. The sample consisted of 160 adults with alcohol dependence (65.6% males) with a mean (SD) age of 45.6 (12.0) years. Alcohol use data were collected using TimeLine Follow-Back. Based on the participant's reported alcohol use, three clusters were identified: 52 (32.5%) mostly abstainers, 64 (40.0%) mostly moderate drinkers and 44 (27.5%) mostly heavy drinkers. Mixed-effect linear regression analysis was used to identify factors that were potentially associated with the mental and physical summary MOS-SF-36 scores at each time point.

RESULTS

The mean (SD) MOS-SF-36 mental component summary score (range 0-100, norm 50) was 35.7 (13.6) at baseline [mostly abstainers: 40.4 (14.6); mostly moderate drinkers 35.6 (12.4); mostly heavy drinkers 30.1 (12.1)]. The score improved to 43.1 (13.4) at 3 months [mostly abstainers: 47.4 (12.3); mostly moderate drinkers 44.2 (12.7); mostly heavy drinkers 35.1 (12.9)], to 47.3 (11.4) at 12 months [mostly abstainers: 51.7 (9.7); mostly moderate drinkers 44.8 (11.9); mostly heavy drinkers 44.1 (11.3)], and to 46.6 (11.1) at 24 months [mostly abstainers: 49.2 (11.6); mostly moderate drinkers 45.7 (11.9); mostly heavy drinkers 43.7 (8.8)]. Mixed-effect linear regression multivariate analyses indicated that there was a significant association between a lower 2-year follow-up MOS-SF-36 mental score and being a mostly heavy drinker (-6.97, P < 0.001) or mostly moderate drinker (-3.34 points, P = 0.018) [compared to mostly abstainers], being female (-3.73, P = 0.004), and having a Beck Inventory scale score ≥8 (-6.54, P < 0.001), at baseline. The mean (SD) MOS-SF-36 physical component summary score was 48.8 (10.6) at baseline, remained stable over the follow-up and did not differ across the three clusters. Mixed-effect linear regression univariate analyses found that the average 2-year follow-up MOS-SF-36 physical score was increased (compared with mostly abstainers) in mostly heavy drinkers (+4.44, P = 0.007); no other variables tested influenced the MOS-SF-36 physical score.

CONCLUSION

Among individuals with alcohol dependence, a rapid improvement was seen in the mental dimension of QOL following treatment initiation, which was maintained during 24 months. Improvement was associated with the pattern of alcohol use, becoming close to the general population norm in patients classified as mostly abstainers, improving substantially in mostly moderate drinkers and improving only slightly in mostly heavy drinkers. The physical dimension of QOL was generally in the normal range but was not associated with drinking patterns.

Engaging in job-related activities is associated with reductions in employment problems and improvements in quality of life in substance abusing patients

Reinforcement-based interventions are highly efficacious in the treatment of substance use disorders, and their benefits can extend to other areas of functioning as well. In particular, reinforcing participation in job-related activities may be useful for improving employment outcomes, which in turn may enhance quality of life and decrease substance use. These secondary analyses compared substance abusing patients randomized with reinforcement interventions (N = 185) who selected and completed two or more job-related activities during treatment versus those who did not. Patients who completed two or more job-related activities during treatment had significantly greater reductions in employment-related problems and improvements in quality of life than those who completed only one or no job-related activities, even after controlling for baseline differences that may impact employment outcomes. Further, patients who completed employment activities remained in treatment significantly longer and achieved greater durations of abstinence than those who did not. These data suggest that reinforcing job-attainment activities may have broad beneficial effects. Reinforcement interventions should be considered for enhancing employment skills training acquisition more generally.

Impact of addiction severity and psychiatric comorbidity on the quality of life of alcohol-, drug- and dual-dependent persons in residential treatment

BACKGROUND

Substance users' quality of life (QoL) is influenced by several variables, including psychiatric comorbidity and addiction severity. Thus far, the impact of the type of dependence (alcohol, drug or dual dependence) remains unclear. Therefore, the objectives of the study were to evaluate QoL in a clinical sample of alcohol-, drug- and dual-dependent patients and to assess the independent impact of psychiatric comorbidity, addiction severity and type of dependence on QoL.

METHODS

Face-to-face interviews with 274 patients admitted to residential substance abuse treatment were conducted using the European Addiction Severity Index (EuropASI), the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview and the Assessment of Personality Disorders self-report questionnaire.

RESULTS

Multivariate analyses showed that anxiety, mood or personality disorder, employment status and the severity rating on the EuropASI domain alcohol use were associated with overall QoL. Gender, anxiety disorder and the severity ratings on the EuropASI domains alcohol use, drug use, physical health and emotional and psychological health were associated with overall perception of health.

CONCLUSION

Addiction severity and psychiatric comorbidity explained the greatest amount of QoL variance, whereas the type of dependence did not play a central role.

The impact of contingency management on quality of life among cocaine abusers with and without alcohol dependence

The use of quality of life (QOL) measures in substance abuse treatment research is important because it may lead to a broader understanding of patients' health status and effects of interventions. Despite the high rates of comorbid cocaine and alcohol use disorders, little is known about the QOL of this population, and even less about the impact of an efficacious behavioral treatment, contingency management (CM), on QOL. In this study, data from three clinical trials were retrospectively analyzed to examine QOL in outpatient cocaine abusers with and without alcohol dependence (AD) and the impact of CM on QOL over time as a function of AD status. Patients were randomized to standard care (n = 115) or standard care plus CM (n = 278) for 12 weeks. QOL was assessed at baseline and Months 1, 3, 6, and 9. At treatment initiation, AD patients had lower QOL total scores and they scored lower on several subscale scores than those without AD. CM treatment was associated with improvement in QOL regardless of AD status. These data suggest that CM produces benefits that go beyond substance abuse outcomes, and they support the use of QOL indexes to capture information related to treatment outcomes. 

Exploring the quality of life (QOL) in the Indian software industry: a public health viewpoint

OBJECTIVES

Our objectives were to describe the QOL and its determinants among software professionals of Kolkata, and to compare the same according to information technology (IT) and IT-enabled services (ITeS) sub-sectors.

METHODS

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among software professionals of Kolkata applying a two-stage stratified random sampling technique. The WHO QOL BREF questionnaire was administered along with a list of pertinent variables.

RESULTS

Overall, the analysis for 338 software professionals (177 IT and 161 ITeS) clearly demonstrated significant differences between mean scores of these two sectors for each of the six outcome domains of WHO QOL BREF. Multilevel multivariate analysis outlined 13 significant predictors of QOL-four positive (age, regular fitness regimes, foreign placements and changing companies frequently) and the rest of the nine, negative (multiple sex partners, multiple addictions, extended working hours, night-shift duties, income, expenditure, carrying office work home, current illness and ITeS company type).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study helps in obtaining a clear understanding of the multifaceted risk factors prevailing in this sector, the majority of which can be effectively addressed by specific health promotional interventions. A dedicated health policy is mandated at both government and company levels.

Alcohol treatment effects on secondary nondrinking outcomes and quality of life: the COMBINE study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the full range of alcohol treatment effectiveness, it is important to assess secondary nondrinking outcome dimensions in addition to primary alcohol consumption outcomes.

METHOD

We used a large sample (n=1,226) of alcohol-dependent participants entering the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism-sponsored COMBINE (Combining Medications and Behavioral Interventions) Study, a multisite clinical trial of pharmacological (naltrexone [ReVia] and acamprosate [Campral]) and behavioral interventions, to examine the effects of specific treatment combinations on nondrinking functional outcomes. We assessed the outcomes at baseline and at the end of 16 weeks of alcohol treatment and again at the 26-week and/or 52-week postrandomization follow-ups.

RESULTS

(1) Drinking and secondary outcomes were significantly related, especially at the follow-up periods. A higher percentage of heavy drinking days, more drinks per drinking day, and lower percentage of days abstinent were associated with lower quality-of-life measures. (2) All nondrinking outcomes showed improvement at the end of 16 weeks of treatment and most maintained improvement over the 26-week and 52-week follow-ups. Only two measures returned to pretreatment levels at 52 weeks: percentage of days paid for work and physical health. Improvements of nondrinking outcomes remained even after adjusting for posttreatment heavy drinking status. (3) Although nondrinking outcomes showed overall improvement, specific pharmacological and behavioral treatment combinations were not differentially effective on specific secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

In the current study, changes that resulted from treatment were multidimensional, and improvements in nondrinking outcomes reflected the overall significant improvement in drinking but they were not differentiated between treatment combination groups. Findings from this study support the importance of including secondary nondrinking outcomes in clinical alcohol-treatment trials.

Alcohol dependence: the impact of cognitive behaviour therapy with or without naltrexone on subjective health status

OBJECTIVES

To examine the health-related quality of life of alcohol-dependent patients across a 12-week cognitive behaviour treatment (CBT) program and identify whether the patient selection of the anticraving medication naltrexone further enhanced these outcomes.

METHOD

One hundred and thirty-six consecutive alcohol-dependent subjects voluntarily participated and were offered naltrexone, of which 73 (54%) participants declined medication. A matched design was used. Of the 136 subjects, 86 (43 naltrexone and CBT; 43 CBT only) could be individually matched (blind to outcome measures) for gender, age, prior alcohol detoxification and dependence severity. Measures of health status and mental health wellbeing included the Rand Corporation Medical Outcomes Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28).

RESULTS

Pre-treatment, all had SF-36 and GHQ-28 scores markedly below national norms. Post-treatment, significant improvement in seven of the eight SF-36 subscales and all of the GHQ-28 subscales occurred, approximating national normative levels. Patients in the CBT + naltrexone group were significantly more likely to have increased days abstinent (p=0.002) and to complete the program abstinent (p=0.051). The adjunctive use of naltrexone did not provide additional benefit as reflected in SF-36 and GHQ-28 scores, beyond CBT alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who completed the CBT-based treatment program reported significant improvements in self-reported health status (SF-36) and wellbeing (GHQ-28). The adjunctive use of naltrexone demonstrated no additional improvement in these measures.

Improvement in Quality of Life After Treatment for Alcohol Dependence With Acamprosate and Psychosocial Support

BACKGROUND

The impact of disease on health-related quality of life is now well recognized, as is the importance of this variable as a measure of treatment efficacy.

METHODS

Patients from five European countries were enrolled in an open, multicenter, prospective study designed to observe outcome in dependent drinkers treated for 6 months with acamprosate and psychosocial support. Version 1 of the 36-item Short Form Health Profile (SF-36v1) questionnaire was administered at inclusion and at 3 and 6 months. Responses were described as handicaps compared with an appropriately matched, healthy reference population. One-way fixed ANOVA and simultaneous stepwise linear regression analysis were used to identify potential predictors of quality of life at baseline and after treatment.

RESULTS

Baseline SF-36v1 data were obtained from 1216 patients (mean age, 43 +/- 9 years; 77% male). Mean values for all SF-36v1 dimensions were significantly lower in the patient population than in the normative reference population; the most important deficits were observed in physical and emotional role limitations and in social functioning. The most important predictors of baseline quality of life were severity of alcohol dependence, employment status, psychiatric history, quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption, attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous, global alcohol health status, age, gender, and education. SF-36v1 data were obtained from 686 patients at 3 months and from 497 at 6 months. Significant improvements were observed in all SF-36v1 dimensional and summary scores after 3 months of treatment (p < 0.001); further marginal improvements were observed between 3 and 6 months. The most important predictors of quality of life following treatment were the SF-36v1 profile at baseline, followed by abstinence duration; patients who completed the trial and remained abstinent throughout showed the greatest improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

Health-related quality of life is severly impaired in dependent drinkers. Treatment with acamprosate and psychosocial support, by promoting abstinence, improves the quality of life profile to levels comparable to those observed in healthy individuals.

Sequential studies of sleep disturbance and quality of life in abstaining alcoholics

Previous studies in recently detoxified dependent alcoholics have shown severely disturbed sleep and impaired quality of life. Although this association has been found to predict short-term relapse to heavy drinking, no sequential studies have been conducted to monitor significant changes in sleep quality and quality of life in abstaining alcoholics. Fifty-seven inpatients at a voluntary sector 12-Step alcohol detoxification unit in South London were administered a series of questionnaires assessing sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI), Quality of Life (Euro-Qol) and Depression and Anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales, HADS). Questionnaires were administered at baseline and for 12 weeks at monthly intervals. At baseline, PSQI scores showed that 52 of the 57 participants suffered from impaired sleep. The scores, however, did not correlate significantly with any of the other measurements. All except two participants acknowledged impaired Quality of Life in at least one area. With respect to the follow-up measurements 23 (40%) participants completed the study. Quality of life and depression scores improved significantly over a 12-week period but sleep and anxiety scores did not. At 12 weeks the mean PSQI score was still above the cut-off point for 'sleep caseness'. Quality of life and depression show a significant improvement over a 3-month period of abstinence, although at this point the subjects are still experiencing difficulties with sleep and anxiety. This information could help in the planning of future rehabilitation and treatment programmes.

Quality of life, sleep, mood and alcohol consumption: a complex interaction

Socio-demographic information was collected from 52 (45 men, seven women) currently drinking moderately dependent alcohol misusers attending an outpatient clinic in South London for medical assessment and treatment. Assessments at baseline and 12-week follow-up included: (i) Severity of Alcohol Dependence (SADQ) (baseline only), (ii) Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); (iii) Nottingham Health Profile sleep subscale (NHP) and (iv) the EuroQoL (EQ-5D). The main outcome measure was drinking at a "sensible level" at 12-week follow-up as recommended by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. There were significant interactions between sleeping badly, lying awake at night and HADS depression scores. The Health-related Quality of Life (HrQoL) of this group was poor compared to general population norms. Lower EQ-5D index scores were associated with poorer educational attainment and lower EQ-5D Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) patient ratings with greater baseline alcohol consumption. Clinician ratings on the EQ-5D VAS were consistently lower than the patient ratings. The correlations between patient self-assessment and clinician ratings (EQ-5D VAS) were not significant. The forty-seven subjects (90%) who were successfully followed-up showed a significant reduction in the total amount of alcohol consumed. Ten (21%) subjects returned to sensible drinking levels at 12 weeks but there was not a corresponding improvement in HrQoL, sleep, or affective status scores or biochemical measures in these subjects.

The relative impact of waiting time and treatment entry on drug and alcohol use

One hundred and twenty-three treatment-seeking substance misusers were recruited to a study assessing the early impact of treatment. Participants were interviewed at treatment entry and 3 and 6 months later, regardless of their treatment status (i.e. including those who had dropped out of treatment), while additional data were obtained from the two assessment interviews carried out prior to the initiation of treatment. Three consistent observations can be applied to both the opiate misuser (n = 61) and problem drinker samples (n = 62): (1) the period of pre-treatment wait (mean of 8 weeks) was characterized by stable patterns of substance misuse with no significant 'spontaneous' improvement in indices of severity of drug or alcohol problems; (2) the period immediately following initiation of treatment was associated with substantial reductions in the quantity and frequency of substance use, an effect not influenced by the length of time for treatment initiation; (3) these benefits are maintained to 6 months after treatment initiation. The waiting period for treatment initiation does not seem to be characterized by significant changes in drug or alcohol use patterns, at least among those who made it into treatment, with clear and sustained improvements irrespective of the length of treatment wait.

Alcoholic skeletal muscle myopathy: definitions, features, contribution of neuropathy, impact and diagnosis

Alcohol misusers frequently have difficulties in gait, and various muscle symptoms such as cramps, local pain and reduced muscle mass. These symptoms are common in alcoholic patients and have previously been ascribed as neuropathological in origin. However, biochemical lesions and/or the presence of a defined myopathy occur in alcoholics as a direct consequence of alcohol misuse. The myopathy occurs independently of peripheral neuropathy, malnutrition and overt liver disease. Chronic alcoholic myopathy is characterized by selective atrophy of Type II fibres and the entire muscle mass may be reduced by up to 30%. This myopathy is arguably the most prevalent skeletal muscle disorder in the Western Hemisphere and occurs in approximately 50% of alcohol misusers. Alcohol and acetaldehyde are potent inhibitors of muscle protein synthesis, and both contractile and non-contractile proteins are affected by acute and chronic alcohol dosage. Muscle RNA is also reduced by mechanisms involving increased RNase activities. In general, muscle protease activities are either reduced or unaltered, although markers of muscle membrane damage are increased which may be related to injury by reactive oxygen species. This supposition is supported by the observation that in the UK, alpha-tocopherol status is poor in myopathic alcoholics. Reduced alpha-tocopherol may pre-dispose the muscle to metabolic injury. However, experimental alpha-tocopherol supplementation is ineffective in preventing ethanol-induced lesions in muscle as defined by reduced rates of protein synthesis and in Spanish alcoholics with myopathy, there is no evidence of impaired alpha-tocopherol status. In conclusion, by a complex series of mechanisms, alcohol adversely affects skeletal muscle. In addition to the mechanical changes to muscle, there are important metabolic consequences, by virtue of the fact that skeletal muscle is 40% of body mass and an important contributor to whole-body protein turnover.

Outpatient cognitive behavioural therapy programme for alcohol dependence: impact of naltrexone use on outcome

OBJECTIVE

Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) has been effectively used in the treatment of alcohol dependence. Clinical studies report that the anticraving drug naltrexone, is a useful adjunct to treatment. Currently, few data are available on the impact of adding this medication to programmes in more typical, outpatient, and rehabilitation settings. The objective of this study was to examine the impact on outcome of adding naltrexone to an established outpatient alcohol rehabilitation program which employed CBT.

METHOD

Fifty patients participated in an established 12-week, outpatient, 'contract'-based alcohol abstinence programme which employed CBT. They also received naltrexone 50 mg orally daily (CBT + naltrexone). Outcomes were compared with 50 historical, matched controls, all of whom participated in the same programme without an anticraving medication (CBT alone). All patients met DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence.

RESULTS

Programme attendance across the eight treatment sessions was lower in the CBT alone group (p < 0.001). Relapse to alcohol use occurred sooner and more frequently in the CBT alone group (p < 0.001). Rehabilitation programme completion at 12 weeks was 88% (CBT + naltrexone) compared with 36% for (CBT alone) (p < 0.001). Alcohol abstinence at 12 weeks was 76% (CBT + naltrexone) compared with 18% (CBT alone) (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

When employing the same outpatient rehabilitation programme and comparing outcomes using matched historical controls, the addition of naltrexone substantially improves programme attendance, programme completion and reported alcohol abstinence. In a typical outpatient programme, naltrexone addition was associated with significantly improved programme participation, better outcomes and was well tolerated.

Quality of life measures and outcome in alcohol-dependent men and women

A sample of 82 (41 men 41 women) DSM IV alcohol-dependent inpatients admitted for detoxification was studied at baseline and followed-up 12 weeks thereafter. The following questionnaires were administered 4-5 days after admission for detoxification: Socio-demographic information, Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ), Alcohol Problems Questionnaire (APQ), Rotterdam Symptoms Checklist (RSCL), Life Situation Survey (LSS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ 12), and Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). All indices other than socio-demographic data, the SADQ, and APQ were administered at 12-week follow-up. After controlling for confounding factors at baseline, women were more likely to be in a higher social class, prescribed anti-depressants during the previous 12 months, drink fewer units of alcohol in a typical week, and have a higher level of psychiatric caseness scores (GHQ-12). A total of 80 subjects (97%) were successfully followed-up. Difference between gender did not significantly impact upon any of the 12-week outcome measures. There was no significant difference in the study relapse rates or time taken to relapse between men and women. The only significant total sample change was a reduction in the amount of alcohol consumed in a typical week. This was significantly related to changes in the following Quality of Life (QoL) measures, NHP emotional reaction sub-scores, LSS, and BDI scores.

Measurement of quality of life in alcohol-dependent subjects by a cancer symptoms checklist

There are few studies of Quality of Life measures (QoL) in alcohol-misusing patients. The present study addresses this deficiency. The sample consisted of 60 (39 men, 21 women) alcohol dependent subjects defined by DSM-IV criteria (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). At baseline (4-5 days after admission and detoxification) sociodemographic data were collected, and three questionnaires were administered: the Rotterdam Symptoms Checklist (RSCL), the Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ), and Alcohol Problems Questionnaire (APQ). QoL scores for dependent alcoholics both for physical and psychological measures were significantly worse (higher) than those reported for a variety of cancer patients. Psychological symptom scores were higher than physical symptoms at baseline. Correlations of RSCL scores to both SADQ and APQ were greater for RSCL physical compared to psychological symptom scores. The subjects were followed up at 12 weeks when the RSCL was re-administered and relapse status ascertained. Fifty-eight (97%) subjects were successfully contacted at 12 weeks of whom 36 (62%) had relapsed. After a repeated measures ANOVA psychological and physical symptom subscores were statistically significantly improved as a result of not relapsing to heavy drinking. There was no significant change in scores in the relapse group when baseline and week 12 scores were compared. The RSCL measure is a useful QoL assessment tool in alcohol-dependent subjects.

Quality of life in alcohol-dependent subjects--a review

Although alcohol misuse is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and an important health care burden, the Quality of Life (QoL) of alcohol misusing subjects has been little studied to date. For example, only 5 out of 442 accepted abstracts at a recent international QoL conference concerned alcohol-dependent subjects. This paper reviews the ongoing and published work in the area focusing upon QoL characteristics of alcohol-dependent subjects, the link between QoL comorbidity and alcoholism, QoL alcohol dependency and social environment, changes in QoL status as a result of abstinence, minimal or controlled drinking, QoL as a predictor of relapse to heavy drinking and the importance of using a QoL measure when assessing treatment outcomes together with some of the present difficulties with existing measures. The main conclusions from the review were that the QoL of alcohol-dependent subjects is very poor but improved as a result of abstinence, controlled or minimal drinking. The important factors in the QoL of alcohol-dependent subjects are psychiatric comorbidity, social environment and disturbed sleep.

Predictors of relapse to heavy drinking in alcohol dependent subjects following alcohol detoxification-the role of quality of life measures, ethnicity, social class, cigarette and drug use

Sixty DSM-IV alcohol dependent adults (39 males, 21 females) admitted to a voluntary sector alcohol detoxification unit in South London were studied. Socio-demographic data and information on level of alcohol dependence, quality of life, family history, cigarette smoking and the use of prescription/illicit drugs were collected. The subjects were followed-up at 12 weeks and subdivided into two groups, relapse and non-relapse. A relapse was defined as drinking 21 units or more per week for males and 14 units or more per week for females. Data were analysed for baseline and 12-week follow-up comparisons. At 12 weeks, 58 (97%) subjects (38 males, 20 females) were successfully followed-up and 36/58 (62%) had relapsed. After controlling for a Type I error there were significant differences between the relapse and non-relapse subgroups at 12-week followup on the following outcome measures; depression, life situation, withdrawal symptoms, energy, emotional reactions and social isolation. There were no significant differences at baseline between the relapse and nonrelapse subgroups for most of the socio-demographic variables, but Irish nationality and membership of lower social classes (IV and V) were associated with relapse. Major predictors of relapse at baseline after a forward stepwise logistic regression were (in order of increasing statistical significance) Irish nationality, lower social class, greater number of cigarettes smoked and disturbed sleep. The findings are discussed with reference to their consistency with existing research and potential clinical implications.