Open J Psychiatry Allied Sci. 2022 Aug 18. Epub ahead of print.

Psychiatric comorbidity and reason for relapse in patients with alcohol dependence syndrome.

Malik L, Punia V, Modi P.

Abstract

Background: Relapse is quite common in patients with substance use disorders. Various studies have shown prominent role of various psychosocial factors in relapse like family environment, peer pressure, personality, and craving. Comorbidities of various psychiatric disorders like antisocial personality disorder, depression, and anxiety disorder among patients of substance use disorders are very common. However there seems to be dearth of literature which studies above variables in patients with alcohol dependence. Aim: Present study aims at bridging gaps in literature and studying the phenomenology of relapse and psychiatric comorbidity in patients with alcohol dependence. Method: Keeping this in view present study is designed with an aim of studying the psychiatric comorbidity and reason for relapse in patients with alcohol dependence. For this purpose, 30 patients with alcohol dependence were selected as sample. Sociodemographic and clinical datasheet was especially designed for the study to assess the reason for relapse and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) was used to assess the psychiatric comorbidities in patients with alcohol dependence. Descriptive statistics were used. Results: Results indicate that most of the patients had mild somatic concerns (76.6%) and anxiety (90%) as well as moderate tension (83.4%) and guilt feelings (90%). Majority of patients had both external as well as internal reasons for relapse. Conclusion: Present study has implications in providing valuable insights into the reasons for relapse and abstinence. It would also be helpful in identifying various risk and protective factors for relapse and other psychiatric disorders which can coexist in such patients and hence be helpful in their pharmacological and non-pharmacological management.

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