Influence of ADHD, especially attention-deficit characteristics, on the course of alcohol-dependent individuals

Abstract

Background While several studies have revealed that neurodevelopmental disorders have a high probability of overlapping with substance use disorders, the effects of neurodevelopmental disorders on the courses of substance use disorders have hardly been examined. Methods This study targeted 637 alcohol-dependent individuals who received inpatient treatment and whose drinking situations were followed for 12 months after hospital discharge using mailed questionnaires. The comorbidity of psychiatric disorders and the characteristics associated with the neurodevelopmental disorders were assessed using several measurements at the time of hospital admission. The effects of neurodevelopmental disorders on the drinking courses of the subjects were then estimated. Results The presence of a current depressive episode or any anxiety disorder significantly lowered the abstinence rates during the follow-up period (p = 0.0195 and p = 0.0214, respectively). ADHD traits as assessed using the ADHD Self-report Scale (ASRS) predicted a significantly poorer abstinence rate (p = 0.0296). Similarly, attention-deficit characteristics assessed objectively through interviews predicted a significantly lower abstinence rate (p = 0.0346), and a sensitivity analysis enhanced these results (p = 0.0019). When the drinking patterns were classified into three groups, the subjects with attention-deficit characteristics had a significantly higher rate of “Recurrence” and lower rates of “Abstinence” and “Controlled drinking” (p = 0.013). In a multivariate proportional hazards analysis, the ASRS score was significantly correlated with the re-drinking risk (p = 0.003). Conclusion ADHD traits had significant effects on not only abstinence rates, but also on drinking pattern. The presence of ADHD traits, especially attention-deficit characteristics, influenced the drinking courses of alcohol-dependent individuals after hospital treatment.

Effect of family intervention on relapse rate of Chinese patients with alcohol-dependent

“…Alcohol dependence syndrome is a recurrent and chronic brain disease caused by central nervous system poisoning caused by habitual excessive drinking (23). On the one hand, alcohol dependence will damage the patient's physical and mental health, on the other hand, it will also bring great burden to the patient's family, and even cause family breakdown in severe cases, which will lead to a series of social problems (24). Re-drinking rate is a key indicator to judge the therapeutic effect of patients with alcohol dependence syndrome (25).…”

“…On the one hand, alcohol dependence will damage the patient’s physical and mental health, on the other hand, it will also bring great burden to the patient’s family, and even cause family breakdown in severe cases, which will lead to a series of social problems ( 24 ). Re-drinking rate is a key indicator to judge the therapeutic effect of patients with alcohol dependence syndrome ( 25 ). In this study, we explored the effect of family intervention on the recurrence rate of patients with alcohol dependence.…”

Maternal Childhood Maltreatment, Internal Working Models, and Perinatal Substance Use: Is There a Role for Hyperkatifeia? A Systematic Review

“… 88 Additionally, the current recommendations of the necessity to treat co-morbid conditions associated with negative affective tone (eg, depression and anxiety) simultaneously with substance use disorders underscores the importance of these relationships. 188 - 191 …”

“…88 Additionally, the current recommendations of the necessity to treat co-morbid conditions associated with negative affective tone (eg, depression and anxiety) simultaneously with substance use disorders underscores the importance of these relationships. [188][189][190][191] However, these phenomena go beyond the need to treat comorbid psychiatric disorders in people with problematic substance use. This work is particularly relevant to the population of pregnant people who have experienced chronic trauma starting in childhood, and who use substances to cope with affective dysregulation, as childhood trauma has been identified as an important risk factor for hyperkatifeia in people using substances.…”