The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #70568

Andrea M. Hegedus, PhD¹, Kirk J. Brower, MD¹, and Marcin Wojnar, MD, PhD². (1) Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, 400 E. Eisenhower Parkway, Suite 2A, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, (734) 615 6060, hegedus@umich.edu, (2) Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, 27 Nowowiejska Street, Warsaw, Poland

Depression has been linked to poor treatment outcomes in alcoholics. We investigated these relationships in a sample of 147 alcoholics – admitted for treatment from 1995 to 1996 – who completed baseline, 1-month diagnostic, and 6-month follow-up assessments. The alcoholic sample was divided into those with no psychiatric diagnoses (group 1; n=85), major depression only (group 2; n=22), and major depression plus one or more of the following Q-DIS-III-R disorders (group 3; n=40): generalized anxiety, panic, PTSD, mania, anorexia nervosa, bulimia, schizophreniform. At baseline, group 3 had the most women and the highest rates of unemployment, childhood sexual and physical abuse, antisocial personality, other drug dependence, past mental health treatment, and recent ER use. Rates of suicidal thoughts increased across the 3 groups, respectively: 9%, 27%, & 48% at baseline (p<0.001) and 1%, 14%, & 20% at follow-up (p<0.001). Diagnostic group was not significantly related to relapse at 6 months (33%, 24%, & 15%, respectively; p=0.10). However, baseline suicidality (thoughts and/or previous attempt) was linked to lower abstinence rates at 6 months (11% vs. 34%; p<0.003) even after adjusting for gender, diagnostic group, severity of substance dependence, baseline psychiatric distress, and antisocial personality (p=0.023). Suicidality may be a better predictor of short-term abstinence in alcoholic patients than either comorbid psychiatric severity or diagnosis. At the conclusion of this session, the participant will gain an understanding of some of the risk factors, such as depression and suidicality, for relapse in alcoholics.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of this session, the participant will gain an understanding of some of the risk factors, such as depression and suicidality, for relapse in alcoholics.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.