Objective continuous monitoring of alcohol consumption for three months among alcohol use disorder treatment outpatients

IntroductionAlcohol consumption represents a significant factor for mortality in the world: 6.3% in men and 1.1% in women. Alcohol use disorder is also very common: 5.4% in men and 1.5% in women. Despite its high frequency and the seriousness of this disorder, only 8% of all alcohol-dependents are ever treated. One potentially interesting treatment option is oriented toward reducing alcohol intake.AimsTo describe one case who has improved his alcohol consumption after starting treatment with nalmefene, an opioid receptor antagonist related to naltrexone.MethodsA 35-year-old male with alcohol use disorder since 2001 came to our consult in November 2015. He was in trouble with his family and he had a liver failure. We offer a new treatment option with nalmefene 18 mg to reduce alcohol consumption.ResultsBefore to start nalmefene he drank 21 drinks/week. Six-month later, he decreased alcohol intake until 5 drinks/week with better family relationship and liver function. After starting nalmefene he complained of nausea, so we recommend to take the middle of the pill for next 7 days. After this time he returned to take one pill with good tolerance and no more side effects or withdrawal syndrome.ConclusionsNalmefene appears to be effective and safe in reducing heavy drinking and in preventing alcohol withdrawal syndrome due to its opioid receptor antagonism. This case suggests nalmefene is a potential option to help patients, who do not want or cannot get the abstinence, in reducing their alcohol consumption.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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Towards the characterization and validation of alcohol use disorder subtypes: integrating consumption and symptom data

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291713000573 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 44 (1) ◽

pp. 143-159 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

K. M. Jackson ◽

K. K. Bucholz ◽

P. K. Wood ◽

D. Steinley ◽

J. D. Grant ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Alcohol Use Disorder ◽

Model Comparison ◽

Latent Class ◽

Common Factor ◽

Hybrid Approaches ◽

Epidemiologic Survey ◽

Alcohol Involvement ◽

Best Fitting

BackgroundThere is evidence that measures of alcohol consumption, dependence and abuse are valid indicators of qualitatively different subtypes of alcohol involvement yet also fall along a continuum. The present study attempts to resolve the extent to which variations in alcohol involvement reflect a difference in kindversusa difference in degree.MethodData were taken from the 2001–2002 National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions. The sample (51% male; 72% white/non-Hispanic) included respondents reporting past 12-month drinking at both waves (wave 1:n = 33644; wave 2:n = 25186). We compared factor mixture models (FMMs), a hybrid of common factor analysis (FA) and latent class analysis (LCA), against FA and LCA models using past 12-month alcohol use disorder (AUD) criteria and five indicators of alcohol consumption reflecting frequency and heaviness of drinking.ResultsModel comparison revealed that the best-fitting model at wave 1 was a one-factor four-class FMM, with classes primarily varying across dependence and consumption indices. The model was replicated using wave 2 data, and validated against AUD and dependence diagnoses. Class stability from waves 1 to 2 was moderate, with greatest agreement for the infrequent drinking class. Within-class associations in the underlying latent factor also revealed modest agreement over time.ConclusionsThere is evidence that alcohol involvement can be considered both categorical and continuous, with responses reduced to four patterns that quantitatively vary along a single dimension. Nosologists may consider hybrid approaches involving groups that vary in pattern of consumption and dependence symptomatology as well as variation of severity within group.

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Effects of Familial Alcohol Consumption on Alcohol Use Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress of University Students

Korean Journal of Family Practice ◽

10.21215/kjfp.2021.11.1.67 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 67-73

Author(s):

Keun-Young Ryu ◽

Kwan-Woo Park ◽

Min-Sun Kim ◽

Hea-Jin Lee ◽

song yi Paek ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

University Students ◽

Alcohol Use Disorder

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Unhealthy Alcohol Use

10.2310/im.13106 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Stephen R Holt ◽

Joseph H. Donroe

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Alcohol Use Disorder ◽

Genetic Factors ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Unhealthy Alcohol Use ◽

Unhealthy Alcohol ◽

Societal Norms ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Excessive Alcohol

Unhealthy alcohol use refers to a spectrum of alcohol consumption ranging from at-risk drinking to alcohol use disorder. It is associated with both a high cost to society and to individuals. Globally, alcohol is a leading cause of death and disability, and despite the high prevalence of unhealthy alcohol use, diagnosis, and treatment of alcohol use disorder remains disproportionately low. Risk for unhealthy alcohol use and alcohol related harms is multifactorial and includes genetic factors, gender, age, socioeconomic status, cultural and societal norms, and policies regulating alcohol consumption among others. Excessive alcohol use is associated with a myriad of poor physical and mental health outcomes, and screening for unhealthy alcohol use is universally recommended and effective. This review contains 1 figures, 2 tables, and 76 references. Key Words: addiction, alcohol, cancer, diagnosis, drinking, liver disease, screening, stigma, use disorderImportant Advances

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Alcohol Use Disorder: Treatment

The SAGE Encyclopedia of Abnormal and Clinical Psychology ◽

10.4135/9781483365817.n50 ◽

2017 ◽

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Alcohol Use Disorder ◽

Disorder Treatment

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Make Mission Impossible Feasible: The Experience of a Multidisciplinary Team Providing Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder to Homeless Individuals

Alcohol and Alcoholism ◽

10.1093/alcalc/agaa052 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 55 (5) ◽

pp. 547-553

Author(s):

Tommaso Dionisi ◽

Carolina Mosoni ◽

Giovanna Di Sario ◽

Claudia Tarli ◽

Mariangela Antonelli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Clinical Evaluation ◽

Treatment Program ◽

Alcohol Use Disorder ◽

Alcohol Intake ◽

Multidisciplinary Treatment ◽

Social Reintegration ◽

Multidisciplinary Treatment Program ◽

Glutamyl Transpeptidase

Abstract Aim People experiencing homelessness are often excluded from treatment programs for alcohol use disorder (AUD). The goal of this study was to describe the impact of a multidisciplinary treatment program on alcohol consumption and social reintegration in individuals with AUD experiencing homelessness. Methods Thirty-one individuals with AUD experiencing homelessness were admitted to an inpatient unit for 5–6 days for clinical evaluation and to treat potential alcohol withdrawal syndrome. A group of volunteers, in collaboration with the Community of Sant’Egidio, provided social support aimed to reintegrate patients. After inpatient discharge, all patients were followed as outpatients. Alcohol intake (number drinks/day), craving and clinical evaluation were assessed at each outpatient visit. Biological markers of alcohol use were evaluated at enrollment (T0), at 6 months (T1) and 12 months (T2). Results Compared with T0, patients at T1 showed a significant reduction in alcohol consumption [10 (3–24) vs 2 (0–10); P = 0.015] and in γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase [187 (78–365) vs 98 (74–254); P = 0.0021]. The reduction in alcohol intake was more pronounced in patients with any housing condition [10 (3–20) vs 1 (0–8); P = 0.008]. Similarly, compared with T0, patients at T2 showed significant reduction in alcohol consumption [10 (3–24) vs 0 (0–15); P = 0.001], more pronounced in patients with any housing condition [10 (3–20) vs 0 (0–2); P = 0.006]. Moreover, at T2 patients showed a significant reduction in γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase [187 (78–365) vs 97 (74–189); P = 0.002] and in mean cell volume [100.2 (95–103.6) vs 98.3 (95–102); P = 0.042]. Conclusion Patients experiencing homelessness may benefit from a multidisciplinary treatment program for AUD. Strategies able to facilitate and support their social reintegration and housing can improve treatment outcomes.

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