Review: in alcohol use disorders, acamprosate is more effective for inducing abstinence while naltrexone is more effective for reducing heavy drinking and craving

IntroductionAlcohol intoxication is often involved in the commission of criminal behaviors that are risky and involve personal confrontation. Individuals who reported having three or more drinks before driving exhibited greater impulsivity when under the influence of alcohol than did those who did not report heavy drinking before driving.ObjectivesThe present study utilized the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) to compare the characteristics of individuals with a single driving while intoxicated (DWI) offense with individuals who were multiple DWI offenders and to identify whether there was a typical profile for multiple offenders.MethodsThe charts of patients were examined in terms of demographic characteristics including age, sex, employment, and education; the MMPI scores of the two groups were compared using an independent t-test, and we identified the typical profile of multiple DWI offenders by using hierarchical cluster analysis with Ward's method.ResultsScores on the F and the depression (D) scales of the MMPI-2 were significantly higher among multiple offenders than among first offenders. The multiple offenders-I group obtained relatively high scores on the D and psychopathic deviate (Pd) scales, and the multiple offenders-II group had low scores on both the hypomania (Ma) and social introversion (Si) scales. Thus, some multiple offenders may have poorer emotional adjustment, characterized by tendencies toward psychopathic deviance, mania, and depression, as well as psychopathological characteristics associated with patients with alcohol-use disorders.ConclusionThe present findings suggest that multiple offenders should be considered a high-risk group for alcohol-use disorders and recurrent drunken driving.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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The cultural aspect

Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs ◽

10.1177/1455072517704795 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 34 (4) ◽

pp. 330-341 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Jürgen Rehm ◽

Robin Room

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Diagnostic Criteria ◽

Disease Burden ◽

Alcohol Use Disorders ◽

Heavy Drinking ◽

Cultural Norms ◽

Drinking Behaviour ◽

Diagnostic Systems ◽

Cultural Impact ◽

Definition Of

Aims: To examine the cultural impact on the diagnosis of alcohol-use disorders using European countries as examples. Design: Narrative review. Results: There are strong cultural norms guiding heavy drinking occasions and loss of control. These norms not only indicate what drinking behaviour is acceptable, but also whether certain behaviours can be reported or not. As modern diagnostic systems are based on lists of mostly behavioural criteria, where alcohol-use disorders are defined by a positive answer on at least one, two or three of these criteria, culture will inevitably co-determine how many people will get a diagnosis. This explains the multifold differences in incidence and prevalence of alcohol-use disorders, even between countries where the average drinking levels are similar. Thus, the incidence and prevalence of alcohol-use disorders as assessed by surveys or rigorous application of standardised instruments must be judged as measuring social norms as well as the intended mental disorder. Conclusions: Current practice to measure alcohol-use disorders based on a list of culture-specific diagnostic criteria results in incomparability in the incidence, prevalence or disease burden between countries. For epidemiological purposes, a more grounded definition of diagnostic criteria seems necessary, which could probably be given by using heavy drinking over time.

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Childhood and adolescent predictors of heavy drinking and alcohol use disorders in early adulthood: a longitudinal developmental analysis

Addiction ◽

10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02174.x ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 103 (s1) ◽

pp. 23-35 ◽

Cited By ~ 142

Author(s):

Michelle M. Englund ◽

Byron Egeland ◽

Elizabeth M. Oliva ◽

W. Andrew Collins

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Early Adulthood ◽

Alcohol Use Disorders ◽

Heavy Drinking ◽

Developmental Analysis

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Age of Drinking Onset, Alcohol Use Disorders, Frequent Heavy Drinking, and Unintentionally Injuring Oneself and Others After Drinking

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.2008-2176 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 123 (6) ◽

pp. 1477-1484 ◽

Cited By ~ 184

Author(s):

R. W. Hingson ◽

W. Zha

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Alcohol Use Disorders ◽

Heavy Drinking

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Research assessments more important than duration of treatment? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the duration of psychosocial treatments for alcohol use disorders

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.133 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. S118-S118

Author(s):

L. Schmidt ◽

A.S. Nielsen ◽

A.B. Bojesen ◽

K. Andersen

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Alcohol Use Disorders ◽

Heavy Drinking ◽

Psychosocial Interventions ◽

Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Research Assessment ◽

Duration Of Treatment

Background and aimsThe recommendations of duration of treatment for alcohol use disorders (AUD) in clinical guidelines are based on consensus decisions. There is a risk that patients will receive too little or too much therapy. We hypothesize that there is an association between duration and effect up until a point where the effects of treatment diminish.MethodsA systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of psychosocial interventions in the alcohol outpatient treatment centers. Population: adults (> 17 years) suffering from AUD treated with at least two sessions of therapy.StatisticsMultiple linear regression analysis with outcome measured in percentage of days abstinent (PDA), percentage of heavy days drinking (PHD), drinks per drinking day (DDD) and/or proportion of participants abstinent (ABS) as a function of duration of treatment.ResultsForty-four studies with 8485 participants were included. Mean duration: 18 (8–82) weeks and 15 (2–36) sessions. Mean follow-up time: 43 (8–104) weeks with a mean of 5 (2–18) research assessments. Only ABS was significantly associated with duration of treatment; ABS increased with 1.6%-point (P < 0.01) with each additional week in treatment. Surprisingly the analysis showed that each research assessment increased PDA with 11%-point (P < 0.001), decreased PHD with 4%-point (P < 0.05) and decreased DDD with 8%-point (P < 0.001).ConclusionDuration of treatment was associated positively with proportion of participants abstinent but not percentage of days abstinent drinks per drinking day or percentage of heavy drinking days. The three latter outcomes were affected positively by number of research assessments.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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