| Database ID |
8 |
| Title |
Comorbidity between alcohol use disorders, anxiety and depression and the impact on treatment outcomes for alcohol disorders |
| Description |
To determine the impact of comorbid mental health disorders on alcohol treatment outcomes and to provide recommendations for service delivery.
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| Status |
Archived |
| Researchers |
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| Keywords |
dual diagnosis; alcohol use; dependency; anxiety; depression |
| Methodology |
A quasi-experimental pre to post design was employed in this study. Ninety-eight clients seeking treatment for alcohol problems were interviewed on admission to treatment and seventy-five (76% response rate) were followed up over a three month period. The main outcomes of interest were disability (measured by the SF-12 and days taken out of role) and the quantity and frequency of alcohol consumed. Also included were participants’ evaluation of treatment and recommendation on how treatments could be improved.
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| Institution |
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre |
| Funding institutions |
- New South Wales. Dept. of Health
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| End Date |
07-2003 |
| Publications |
- This study forms two chapters of a PhD thesis and will be submitted to a peer reviewed journal, : ,
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| Contact |
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| Note |
Results:
Although participants with comorbid anxiety and/or depression received approximately twice as many treatment sessions and a broader range of interventions than those without these additional disorders, they continued to be significantly more disabled and drank significantly more alcohol at three follow-up. There was, however, no difference between the self-reported degree of satisfaction with services of clients with and without comorbid anxiety and/ or depression. Both groups were generally satisfied or very satisfied with the services they received. There was a strong suggestion, however, that services could be strengthened by additional funding to provide crisis intervention and assertive follow-up, particularly for clients with comorbid mental health disorders.
Benefits:
This study provides evidence that comorbid mental health disorders are a significant issue in treatment. Results suggest that staff at drug and alcohol treatment agencies should be funded to routinely screen for these comorbid disorders and that a model of care be applied that includes features of mental health service delivery with particular emphasis on matching clients to treatment and the provision of crisis intervention and assertive follow-up.
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| Indexed |
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