Age-based differences in treatment outcome among alcohol-dependent women.

Abstract

The literature suggests that women are at higher risk for negative consequences from alcohol use than men and that these risks are compounded by age. The current study investigated how alcohol dependent women from different age groups might differ in terms of baseline functioning and treatment response. The sample consisted of 181 participants drawn from 2 randomized clinical trials of cognitive behavioral treatments for alcohol dependent women. Demographic and psychopathology data were obtained at baseline using the SCID (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM disorders) I for Axis I disorders and the SCID II or Personality Disorders Questionnaire for Axis II disorders. Social networks data were collected using the Important People and Activities Interview. Drinking data were collected at baseline and follow-up using the Timeline Follow Back Interview. Analyses of Variance (ANOVAs) revealed that older women had better psychosocial functioning in terms of being better educated and reporting fewer Axis I disorders. Also, older women had more supportive social networks in terms of more people, a smaller percentage of heavy drinkers, and a non-drinking spouse. Older women reported a less severe lifetime substance use history with a later age of first drink, later onset of alcohol use disorders, fewer lifetime abuse/dependence items, and less drug use. However, they reported drinking more frequently and more heavily over the 90 days prior to treatment. Finally, older women were more compliant with treatment and responded better by reducing drinking frequency and percentage of heavy drinking days. Suggestions to enhance treatment efficacy for younger women are made as well as suggestions for future research.

Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Middle-aged Versus Younger Adults Enrolled in a Clinical Trial of a Web-delivered Psychosocial Treatment for Substance Use Disorders

“…The later age of onset of substance dependence in middle-aged adults compared to younger adults in this analysis is also consistent with our previous dataset (Kalapatapu et al, 2011) and other studies (Al-Otaiba et al, 2012; Arndt et al, 2002). This difference may be due to biased recall, where younger adults were more likely to remember an earlier age of onset because it is more recent due to their younger age.…”

Sex and gender differences in substance use disorders

“…Moreover, although not reviewed in detail in this manuscript, there are other key variables that interact with sex/gender, such as socioeconomic status (E. O. Johnson & Novak, 2009), age (Al-Otaiba, Epstein, McCrady, & Cook, 2012), race/ethnicity (Guerrero, Marsh, Cao, Shin, & Andrews, 2014; Montgomery, Burlew, Kosinski, & Forcehimes, 2011), and sexual orientation (Medley et al, 2016). Specifically, these groups differ with respect to access to substances, risk for problematic substance use, and access to substances; the nature of these differences and their implications for treatment are not yet well-characterized.…”

Demographic and clinical profile of substance abusing women seeking treatment at a de-addiction center in north India

“…A more recent study reported older women to have relatively less severe substance abuse and better social networking and treatment outcome compared to younger women. [ 30 ]…”