BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Rates of treatment-seeking for alcohol use disorders are notably low. To elucidate the clinical correlates of treatment-seeking for alcoholism, this study compared patients with current alcohol dependence and a primary psychiatric diagnosis who endorsed a desire for alcoholism treatment to patients who refused treatment or who were unsure. METHOD: A total of 131 (54 females) psychiatric outpatients with current alcohol dependence completed an intake assessment at a large hospital-based psychiatric clinic and at the end of the intake were asked whether they would like to receive treatment for alcohol problems. RESULTS: Compared with alcohol-dependent patients who refused treatment for alcoholism or who were unsure (n=46), patients who expressed a desire for treatment (n=85) were older, were more likely to be female, reported higher levels of social impairments, and were more likely to endorse the following alcohol dependence symptoms: (i) multiple unsuccessful efforts or persistent desire to stop or cut down on their drinking; and (ii) drinking more than intended. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately, 35% of patients who met current DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence reported no interest (or were unsure) in alcoholism treatment despite being engaged in treatment-seeking for another psychiatric disorder. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: These findings extend previous epidemiological studies documenting treatment-seeking patterns for alcoholism by identifying clinical features associated with interest in treatment for this disorder among psychiatric outpatients.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Rates of treatment-seeking for alcohol use disorders are notably low. To elucidate the clinical correlates of treatment-seeking for alcoholism, this study compared patients with current alcohol dependence and a primary psychiatric diagnosis who endorsed a desire for alcoholism treatment to patients who refused treatment or who were unsure. METHOD: A total of 131 (54 females) psychiatric outpatients with current alcohol dependence completed an intake assessment at a large hospital-based psychiatric clinic and at the end of the intake were asked whether they would like to receive treatment for alcohol problems. RESULTS: Compared with alcohol-dependent patients who refused treatment for alcoholism or who were unsure (n=46), patients who expressed a desire for treatment (n=85) were older, were more likely to be female, reported higher levels of social impairments, and were more likely to endorse the following alcohol dependence symptoms: (i) multiple unsuccessful efforts or persistent desire to stop or cut down on their drinking; and (ii) drinking more than intended. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately, 35% of patients who met current DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence reported no interest (or were unsure) in alcoholism treatment despite being engaged in treatment-seeking for another psychiatric disorder. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: These findings extend previous epidemiological studies documenting treatment-seeking patterns for alcoholism by identifying clinical features associated with interest in treatment for this disorder among psychiatric outpatients.
Authors: Christopher W Kahler; David R Strong; Gregory L Stuart; Todd M Moore; Susan E Ramsey Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2003-11-24 Impact factor: 4.492
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