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

Abstract

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.

Psychiatric Comorbidity in Alcohol Dependent Outpatients in Tertiary Care Centre

“…(3) Other Indian studies also reported similar observations in their sample. (5,8,12) Females constituted only 2% of the sample in this study similar to another Indian study. (5) A south Indian study concluded that availability of Indian made foreign liquor and living in a village which brewed illicit alcohol were major risk factors for hazardous use in women (13) Both female subjects in our study initiated drinking with their relatives due to false myths about alcohol.…”

“…(7) Such severe alcohol dependence will be associated with high prevalence of psychiatric disorders also. In Kerala, recent prevalence of psychiatric co-morbidity among alcohol dependent inpatients in tertiary care centre was 14% (8) and 66.59% in another deaddiction clinic. (9) DSM-IV reminds clinicians that such mood, anxiety or psychotic symptoms that are documented before severe life problems from alcohol or that remain beyond 4 weeks of total abstinence should be carefully evaluated as possible indicators of true co-morbidity with occurrence of two or more independent psychiatric syndromes.…”

Deliberate Self harm in Alcohol Dependent Outpatients in Tertiary Care Centre

“…This was similar to other recent Indian studies. [7,8,9] DSH was found to be more in males in this study. Most patients with DSH belonged to younger age group with slight male preponderance in other Indian studies.…”

“…Most patients with DSH belonged to younger age group with slight male preponderance in other Indian studies. [8,9] But association between gender and deliberate self harm could not be statistically examined because of poor representation of females in this sample. Majority of the sample was less educated.…”

“…[11] In this study 84% of alcohol dependent patients were intoxicated at the time of deliberate self harm replicating other studies. [8,9,10,12] Ingestion of alcohol during or before the act sometimes can be considered to be part of the actual method of attempted suicide (when used to bring about unconsciousness, or to increase risk of a fatal outcome), as part of the preparation (to lower the threshold for engaging in an attempt because of disinhibition). [13] In addition to increasing the likelihood of an attempt, alcohol may add considerably to the danger of overdoses.…”