Treatment response of bipolar and unipolar alcoholics to an inpatient dual diagnosis program.
Loading...
Authors
Farren, Conor Kevin
Mc Elroy, Sharon
Issue Date
2007-08-16
Type
Clinical Trial
Comparative Study
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Comparative Study
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Depressed and bipolar alcoholics represent a significant affective subgroup that has a poorer prognosis than either diagnosis alone. To date few systematic treatment programs have been developed to treat dual diagnosis.
An inpatient treatment program was developed at St Patrick's Hospital Dublin to treat dual diagnosis clients with alcohol dependence and either unipolar or bipolar affective disorder. Clients (N=232) were assessed for depression, anxiety, elation, cravings, drink and drug intake on admission, discharge, 3 and 6 months post-discharge from the program.
In the overall group there was a reduction in number of drinking days and units per drinking day over the study (p<.01). There was a 71.8% complete abstinent rate at 3 months and 55.8% at 6 months in the depression group, non-significantly greater than for the bipolar group at 64.7% and 54.1% respectively. Gamma GT, MCV and craving scores were significantly reduced over time (p<.01). Mania, depression and anxiety inventory scores fell over time in both groups (p<.01). 15-21-year olds were more severely anxious, had higher illicit drug use, and were more likely to relapse to drug use than older clients. Bipolar 1 clients were significantly more likely than bipolar 2 clients to be on mood stabilisers at all follow-up stages (p<.001).
No control group was used.
There is evidence for efficacy of a specifically designed dual diagnosis inpatient treatment program as both depressed and bipolar alcoholics had significant reductions in all measurements of mood, craving, and alcohol/drug consumption by self report and biological markers, suggesting both diagnoses can be effectively treated together.
An inpatient treatment program was developed at St Patrick's Hospital Dublin to treat dual diagnosis clients with alcohol dependence and either unipolar or bipolar affective disorder. Clients (N=232) were assessed for depression, anxiety, elation, cravings, drink and drug intake on admission, discharge, 3 and 6 months post-discharge from the program.
In the overall group there was a reduction in number of drinking days and units per drinking day over the study (p<.01). There was a 71.8% complete abstinent rate at 3 months and 55.8% at 6 months in the depression group, non-significantly greater than for the bipolar group at 64.7% and 54.1% respectively. Gamma GT, MCV and craving scores were significantly reduced over time (p<.01). Mania, depression and anxiety inventory scores fell over time in both groups (p<.01). 15-21-year olds were more severely anxious, had higher illicit drug use, and were more likely to relapse to drug use than older clients. Bipolar 1 clients were significantly more likely than bipolar 2 clients to be on mood stabilisers at all follow-up stages (p<.001).
No control group was used.
There is evidence for efficacy of a specifically designed dual diagnosis inpatient treatment program as both depressed and bipolar alcoholics had significant reductions in all measurements of mood, craving, and alcohol/drug consumption by self report and biological markers, suggesting both diagnoses can be effectively treated together.
Description
Citation
Farren, C. K., & Mc Elroy, S. (2008). Treatment response of bipolar and unipolar alcoholics to an inpatient dual diagnosis program. Journal of affective disorders, 106(3), 265–272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2007.07.006
Publisher
License
Journal
Journal of affective disorders
Volume
106
Issue
3
PubMed ID
ISSN
0165-0327