How Long Does Alcohol Rehab Last?

How long is the treatment for alcohol dependence?

Therapeutic Community – The motivation to seek treatment is a positive step and is a critical part to successful treatment and recovery. A therapeutic community addresses alcohol addiction treatment from a mental health approach. Alcoholics Anonymous is an example of a therapeutic community that treats alcohol addiction using a 12-step recovery process.

Therapeutic community treatment programs rely on the patient and volunteers to implement treatment strategies and support the patient throughout your recovery. The length of these programs varies depending on the person seeking treatment. Typically, a therapeutic community alcohol addiction program will require participation that lasts anywhere from six months to two years.

View AA’s official website, Alcohol addictions treatment programs require time to help you to change what has become a life-consuming activity. The motivation to seek treatment is a positive step and is a critical part to successful treatment and recovery.

What is the last step in the treatment of alcoholism?

Maintenance – Once you complete the rehabilitation stage, you will begin to gradually acclimate yourself to daily life. It’s important to give yourself time to ease back into the swing of things. Attending support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Al-Anon, that offer encouragement and engagement with others in recovery, group leaders and sponsors can be a positive way to make a lifestyle change and maintain sobriety.

What is the recovery rate for alcoholics?

7 Alcoholism Recovery Statistics To Know in 2021 –

1. About 36% of people suffering from alcoholism recover after one year in one study.
2. Approximately 18% of recovering alcoholics achieved low-risk drinking after a year.
3. About 18% of recovering alcoholics were able to abstain from drinking completely one year later.
4. Recovery rates are less than 36% for people with a severe or lifetime alcohol dependence.
5. Around 60% of individuals who are sober for two years after AUD remain that way.
6. The majority of former alcoholics who stay sober for five years and over usually stay that way.
7. About 12% of Native Americans suffer from a drinking problem.

How many days is 3 years sober?

It’s been 1,095 days since you last used drugs or alcohol. You’ve cleaned up the financial messes you made. You’ve developed healthy relationships.

Does alcohol use disorder go away?

Is alcohol use disorder treatment different for pregnant women and mothers of newborns? – Consumption of alcohol can affect both mother and fetus. In fact, the consumption of alcohol by pregnant women is the leading cause of preventable birth defects in the U.S., and it can cause a particular constellation of problems called fetal alcohol syndrome.

What happens to your body after 3 months of no alcohol?

How Long Will It Take To Feel Better? – It may take a full month of not drinking alcohol to feel better. Although positive changes may appear earlier, 3 months of not drinking can not only improve your mood, energy, sleep, weight, skin health, immune health, and heart health.

Which is the most successful type of treatment for alcoholism?

AA shines – Most of the studies that measured abstinence found AA was significantly better than other interventions or no intervention. In one study, it was found to be 60% more effective. None of the studies found AA to be less effective. In the studies that measured outcomes other than complete abstinence, AA was found to be at least as effective.

For the studies that considered costs, most showed significant savings associated with AA participation: One found that AA and 12-step facilitation counseling reduced mental health costs by $10,000 per person. The researchers looked only at studies of AA; they excluded Narcotics Anonymous and organizations focused on addiction to other substances.

While it was beyond the scope of their study, Humphreys said the AA review is “certainly suggestive that these methods work for people who use heroin or cocaine.” Humphreys noted that the findings were consistent whether the study participants were young, elderly, male, female, veterans or civilians; the studies in the review were also conducted in five different countries.

• It absolutely does work,” he said of AA’s method.
• He added that he feels validated in giving advice to so many patients to try AA: “That was really good advice, and that continues to be good advice,” he said.
• Humphreys is a member of the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute at Stanford.
• The research was not funded.

Stanford’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences supported the work. Hear Humphreys discuss the research in a 1:2:1 podcast hosted by Paul Costello, senior communications strategist and adviser for Stanford Health Care and the School of Medicine.

How is life after not drinking?

48-72 hours after you stop drinking – For the majority, the symptoms of withdrawal will begin to subside at this point, allowing you to function more normally and manage your symptoms. Symptoms of DTs may continue for some, with a feeling of disorientation and delusions alongside other severe withdrawal symptoms like heavy sweating and high blood pressure.

Does sobriety change your life?

Reasons to Get Sober – Sobriety’s health benefits cover every part of your wellness, from physical to mental, emotional and social. Even though addiction feels good in the moment, it ultimately degrades, When you start maintaining sobriety:

You’ll look better: Alcohol and other drugs can dry out your skin, hair, teeth and nails. Once you remove them from your system, your body can repair itself, giving you a better appearance. Without the extra calories from drinking or drug-induced cravings, your body will feel stronger, and you’ll be less tempted to indulge in foods with little nutrition. You’ll feel better: Addiction can affect your sleeping patterns, energy levels, productivity and memory. When substances don’t constantly bombard your brain, it can give your faculties a boost as you try new things. You can start rebuilding relationships: Outside of yourself, your closest relationships are probably most affected by your addiction. This disease can make you lie and lash out at the ones that are trying to help you, and over time, it can ruin relationships. Getting your sobriety back means you can make it up to people, regain their trust and remind them of your love for them. You’ll have more time and money: Without your addiction, you won’t have to spend money to fuel your habit or take time to get alcohol or drugs, use them and recover from using them. You’ll have the time, energy and funds to try new hobbies and develop new skills. You’ll find new and accepting communities: Recovery centers, group therapy and addiction programs are full of people that have gone through addiction. Entering these programs allows you to connect with people that understand what you’ve gone through. You can see firsthand what life after addiction can bring and develop new relationships where you can enjoy sobriety with others.

What are the chances of relapse after 5 years sober?

by Janet Piper Voss, retired executive director, Illinois Lawyers’ Assistance Program Joe was a successful trial lawyer with an active practice in a small, well-respected firm. Colleagues, clients, and friends like him and saw him as accomplished in every aspect of his life.

Well known in his community, he served on the local school board, was active in his church, and directly worked on behalf of several charitable community organizations. His wife was a community leader; he had a daughter in law school and a son studying at an Ivy League college. He appeared to have the perfect life.

Only his wife and a couple of close friends remember the difficult days when Joe struggled with his alcoholism, but that was 24 years ago. Once he sought treatment and went to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), his life turned around and he seemed unstoppable in his success – until the day so many years later when he was arrested for drunk driving, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

What happened to this life of recovery? What happened to the sobriety that gave Joe a good life? Unfortunately, lawyer assistance programs confront this scenario more often than you might think. Every year or two, there is another story of a lawyer or judge who relapses to alcohol or drug addiction after long-term sobriety.

With help, some get themselves back onto the road of recovery in spite of losses to reputation and to relationships. Unfortunately, some do not. Relapse is the return to alcohol or drug use after an individual acknowledges the presence of addictive disease, recognizes the need for total abstinence, and makes a decision to maintain sobriety with the assistance of a recovery program.

According to a survey of members of AA, 75 percent experience a relapse during their first year of recovery. For those who are sober five years, the rate drops to 7 percent. People who successfully complete a formal treatment program such as a 28-day inpatient program or an intensive outpatient program have significantly higher recovery rates than those who do not.

Relapse is not uncommon in early recovery because individuals are learning what changes they must make to live a sober life. The relapse can be a learning experience in how to develop better coping skills and get through difficult experiences without the use of alcohol or drugs.

When relapse comes after many years of continuous sobriety, it is a clear indication that something is missing in the recovery, even if it appears intact to those who associate with the individual. At any stage of life, heavy alcohol or drug use alters the brain. When people stop drinking or using drugs, the brain does not return to normal.

But with treatment and AA, these people learn to manage the resulting symptoms. They remove shame and guilt by working the 12 steps of AA. They manage stress with prayer and meditation and by living life one day at a time. They reduce conflict by mending relationships.

1. They make their lives better with rigorous honesty.
2. When they need help, they turn to other people for support and encouragement.
3. Over time, this lifestyle becomes a way of life, and concern about relapse fades.
4. If these individuals are successful in the eyes of the world, it is easy for them to become complacent.

They may become less rigorous about applying all the coping skills they developed when they first learned how to live a sober life. Then, when stress levels increase or conflicts arise as they do even in normal lives, the altered brain remembers what takes away those feelings immediately and effectively.

So these individuals pick up the drink or the drug – and everyone wonders how this could have happened. Complacency can set in when life is going well. Individuals in recovery sometimes believe that they no longer need to focus on their recovery efforts; they are convinced they will never drink or use drugs again.

When drinking is the furthest thing from someone’s mind, then not drinking is no longer a conscious thought, either. It can be dangerous to lose sight of the principles of recovery (honesty, openness, willingness) because everything is going well. More relapses occur when life is going well than when it is not.

Addiction is cunning, baffling, and powerful – words direct from the “big book” of AA. This is never more evident than when someone whose life is so good returns to a destructive lifestyle. Could it be that those who experience success on so many levels of their lives forget that their sobriety is the reason for the success that has come in recovery? There are also those who relapse during times of extreme difficulty – the loss of a loved one, the onset of serious or debilitating illness, or the loss of a career that has been important both for financial reasons and for a sense of well-being.

During difficult times, it is more important than ever for these individuals to focus on a recovery program of openness and honesty with themselves and with those who can help and support them. It is the time to return to the skills that have kept them sober for so many years.

1. In some cases, physicians prescribe pain medications following surgery or other health issues without knowing the individual is in recovery.
2. Although the use of addictive or mood-altering prescription drugs is sometimes necessary, it is important that the recovering person and the physician communicate openly and work together to prevent drug abuse.

We have seen many instances where the abuse of prescription drugs leads a recovering lawyer back to alcohol or to another drug of choice. In this pharmaceutical era that reminds us constantly that there is a medication to help with any problem, taking a pill can seem quite normal.

Medications that keep us from feeling physical or emotional pain, that help us relax, or that enable us to sleep are the ones that can lead to abuse and addictive use. They are the drugs that can threaten sobriety. Major life events do come along in everyone’s life and will challenge a lawyer’s recovery even when there is a carefully thought-out relapse management plan.

Such events as illness, death, divorce or the end of a relationship, and loss of job are not unique to recovering people, but it is even more important that recovering lawyers learn to handle these situations so their sobriety is not threatened. Relapse is a process, not an event.

Many who relapse are not consciously aware of the warning signs of relapse even as they are occurring. It happens because something is missing in the recovery program. Those who are successful in recovery learn to recognize their own particular warning signs and high-risk situations. They learn to take a daily inventory of active warning signs and then proactively seek the right way to handle them.

They learn to recognize the spiral that leads to relapse and set up intervention plans ahead of time that they can activate before they reach the point of taking a drink or a drug. Warning signs of relapse change with more recovery. Some of the typical warning signs in early recovery may be denial of addiction, craving (physical and emotional), and euphoric recall (remembering only the positive experiences of previous alcohol and/or drug use).

There is also the tendency to “awfulize” sobriety by focusing on the negative aspects of life without alcohol or drugs and failing to see the improvements that have come with abstinence. In later recovery, warning signs are more likely to be dissatisfaction with life, inability to find balance in lifestyle, complacency, and a gradual buildup of stress and emotional pain.

Because the struggle to find lifestyle balance and the presence of stress are two of the major complaints we hear from lawyers in general, it is no surprise to learn that recovering lawyers face these challenges in their recovery and can be vulnerable to relapse if they do not constantly monitor and manage these aspects of their lives.

A lawyer who recently celebrated the 35 th anniversary of his sobriety told me his Saturday morning AA meeting is still an important part of his life. He explained that this is where he made the friends who helped him through a difficult time in his recovery, when he was going through a divorce and feeling vulnerable of his negative emotions.

It continues to be the place he turns when the going gets rough – or when he simply needs to talk to someone who will really understand. When his is in a good place, he goes there to help his friends through the difficult times. This is testimony to the fact that a recovery network is important at any stage of recovery.

Without recovering people in our lives with whom we share our struggles and our successes, it can become too easy to forget the addiction that once was active and the recovery that makes it possible to live a happy and successful life. Another lawyer, sober for more than 30 years, told me he makes a commitment to his sobriety every morning.

He promises himself that he will put his recovery first, and preserving his sobriety is constantly in the forefront of his mind. The danger of relapse is always present, even if there are decades of sobriety. Those who are successful in maintaining their sobriety seem to be always mindful of the benefits that have come to them in recovery.

Acknowledging those gifts on a daily basis and continuing to focus on a good recovery program, no matter how many years have passed, is the surest way to avoid relapse and maintain the good life of sobriety. ” Relapse After Long-Term Sobriety ” by Janet Voss was originally published in GP Solo, © 2009 by the American Bar Association.

Reprinted with Permission. All rights reserved. This information or any portion thereof may not be copied or disseminated in any form or by any means or stored in an electronic database or retrieval system without the express written consent of the American Bar Association.

Is 30 days sober a big deal?

Getting 30 days is a huge accomplishment – Getting sober from an alcohol addiction or substance use disorder is a huge accomplishment, and the first 30 days are crucial. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, remember that help is available.

1. There are many resources out there to get you through this difficult time.
2. For more information on the sober life, take a look through the rest of our articles,
3. If you’re in the Phoenix, Atlanta, Kansas City, North KC or Denver area and would like to discuss more about how to begin your recovery journey, please reach out to us.

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Why can’t I stop drinking?

Alcoholism, like other forms of substance abuse, is a disease. The problem leads to many symptoms including cravings, loss of control, physical dependence, and tolerance. These symptoms are major contributing factors as to why alcoholics can’t stop drinking.

Along with these problems, there is also the factor of brain chemistry. Brain chemistry plays an important role in alcoholism. Excessive drinking and positive reinforcement associated with alcohol use can eventually lead to changes with dopamine release in the brain. Overall, there are an array of factors that contribute to alcohol dependence, not only with brain chemistry but underlying factors as well.

Things like mental health, environmental influences, and genetics can all contribute to a drinking problem. However, one thing is clear: if you or a loved one has a problem with alcohol, or another substance, seeking out treatment should be a top priority.

Is alcoholism a mental disorder?

Mental illness is defined as a health condition that affects “mood, thinking, and behavior”. Mental health disorders include such conditions as depression, eating disorders, and addictive behaviors. The latest statistics from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) find about “1 in 5 adults in the U.S.

1. Experiences mental illness.” NAMI also reports a troubling increase in mental disorders among teenagers.
2. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is used by physicians to diagnose mental illnesses.
3. In 1980, the third edition of the Manual, DSM-3, identified alcoholism as a subset of a mental health disorder.

The current edition, DSM-5, classifies alcoholism, now referred to as Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) or Substance Use Disorder (SUD), as a mental disorder presenting both physical and mental symptoms.

What mental disorders do alcoholics have?

Ramesh Shivani, M.D., R. Jeffrey Goldsmith, M.D., and Robert M. Anthenelli, M.D. – Ramesh Shivani, M.D., is an addiction psychiatry fellow; R. Jeffrey Goldsmith, M.D., is a clinical professor of psychiatry at and director of the Addiction Fellowships Program; and Robert M. Anthenelli, M.D., is an associate professor of psychiatry and director of the Addiction Psychiatry Division and of the Substance Dependence Program; all three at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Clinicians working with alcohol–abusing or alcohol–dependent patients sometimes face a difficult task assessing their patient’s psychiatric complaints because heavy drinking associated with alcoholism can coexist with, contribute to, or result from several different psychiatric syndromes.

In order to improve diagnostic accuracy, clinicians can follow an algorithm that distinguishes among alcohol–related psychiatric symptoms and signs, alcohol–induced psychiatric syndromes, and independent psychiatric disorders that are commonly associated with alcoholism. The patient’s gender, family history, and course of illness over time also should be considered to attain an accurate diagnosis.

Moreover, clinicians need to remain flexible with their working diagnoses and revise them as needed while monitoring abstinence from alcohol. Key words: AODD (alcohol and other drug dependence); diagnostic algorithm; diagnostic criteria; screening and diagnostic method for potential AODD; patient assessment; AODR (AOD related) mental disorder; behavioral and mental disorder; symptom; comorbidity; major depression; manic–depressive psychosis; personality disorder; anxiety; patient family history; medical history The evaluation of psychiatric complaints in patients with alcohol use disorders (i.e., alcohol abuse or dependence, which hereafter are collectively called alcoholism) can sometimes be challenging.

• Heavy drinking associated with alcoholism can coexist with, contribute to, or result from several different psychiatric syndromes.
• As a result, alcoholism can complicate or mimic practically any psychiatric syndrome seen in the mental health setting, at times making it difficult to accurately diagnose the nature of the psychiatric complaints (Anthenelli 1997; Modesto–Lowe and Kranzler 1999).

When alcoholism and psychiatric disorders co–occur, patients are more likely to have difficulty maintaining abstinence, to attempt or commit suicide, and to utilize mental health services (Helzer and Przybeck 1988; Kessler et al.1997). Thus, a thorough evaluation of psychiatric complaints in alcoholic patients is important to reduce illness severity in these individuals.

• This article presents an overview of the common diagnostic difficulties associated with the comorbidity of alcoholism and other psychiatric disorders.
• It then briefly reviews the relationship between alcoholism and several psychiatric disorders that commonly co–occur with alcoholism and which clinicians should consider in their differential diagnosis.

The article also provides some general guidelines to help clinicians meet the challenges encountered in the psychiatric assessment of alcoholic clients. DIAGNOSTIC DIFFICULTIES IN ASSESSING PSYCHIATRIC COMPLAINTS IN ALCOHOLIC PATIENTS A Case Example A 50–year–old man presents to the emergency room complaining: “I’m going to end it all,

life’s just not worth living.” The clinician elicits an approximate 1–week history of depressed mood, feelings of guilt, and occasional suicidal ideas that have grown in intensity since the man’s wife left him the previous day. The client denies difficulty sleeping, poor concentration, or any changes in his appetite or weight prior to his wife’s departure.

He appears unshaven and slightly unkempt, but states that he was able to go to work and function on the job until his wife left. The scent of alcohol is present on the man’s breath. When queried about this, he admits to having “a few drinks to ease the pain” earlier that morning, but does not expand on this theme.

He seeks help for his low mood and demoralization, acknowledging later in the interview that “I really don’t want to kill myself; I just want my life back to the way it used to be.” The above case is a composite of many clinical examples observed across mental health settings each day, illustrating the challenges clinicians face when evaluating psychiatric complaints in alcoholic patients.

The questions facing the clinician in this example include:

Is the patient clinically depressed in the sense that he has a major depressive episode requiring aggressive pharmacological and psychosocial treatment? What role, if any, is alcohol playing in the patient’s complaints? How does one tease out whether drinking is the cause of the man’s mood problems or the result of them? If the man’s condition is not a major depression, what is it, what is its likely course, and how can it be treated?

As is usually the case (Anthenelli 1997; Helzer and Przybeck 1988), the patient in this example does not volunteer his alcohol abuse history but comes to the hospital for help with his psychological distress. The acute stressor leading to the distress is his wife’s leaving him; only further probing during the interview uncovers that the reason for the wife’s action is the man’s excessive drinking and the effects it has had on their relationship and family.

1. Thus, a clinician who lacks adequate training in this area or who carries too low a level of suspicion of alcohol’s influence on psychiatric complaints may not consider alcohol misuse as a contributing or causative factor for the patient’s psychological problems.
2. In general, it is helpful to consider psychiatric complaints observed in the context of heavy drinking as falling into one of three categories—alcohol–related symptoms and signs, alcohol–induced psychiatric syndromes, and independent psychiatric disorders that co–occur with alcoholism.

These three categories are discussed in the following sections. Alcohol–Related Psychiatric Symptoms and Signs Heavy alcohol use directly affects brain function and alters various brain chemical (i.e., neurotransmitter) and hormonal systems known to be involved in the development of many common mental disorders (e.g., mood and anxiety disorders) (Koob 2000).

Thus, it is not surprising that alcoholism can manifest itself in a broad range of psychiatric symptoms and signs. (The term “symptoms” refers to the subjective complaints a patient describes, such as sadness or difficulty concentrating, whereas the term “signs” refers to objective phenomena the clinician directly observes, such as fidgeting or crying.) In fact, such psychiatric complaints often are the first problems for which an alcoholic patient seeks help (Anthenelli and Schuckit 1993; Helzer and Przybeck 1988).

The patient’s symptoms and signs may vary in severity depending upon the amounts of alcohol used, how long it was used, and how recently it was used, as well as on the patient’s individual vulnerability to experiencing psychiatric symptoms in the setting of excessive alcohol consumption (Anthenelli and Schuckit 1993; Anthenelli 1997).

For example, during acute intoxication, smaller amounts of alcohol may produce euphoria, whereas larger amounts may be associated with more dramatic changes in mood, such as sadness, irritability, and nervousness. Alcohol’s disinhibiting properties may also impair judgment and unleash aggressive, antisocial behaviors that may mimic certain externalizing disorders, such as antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) (Moeller et al.1998).

(Externalizing disorders are discussed in the section “ASPD and Other Externalizing Disorders.”) Psychiatric symptoms and signs also may vary depending on when the patient last used alcohol (i.e., whether he or she is experiencing acute intoxication, acute withdrawal, or protracted withdrawal) and when the assessment of the psychiatric complaints occurs.

For instance, an alcohol–dependent patient who appears morbidly depressed when acutely intoxicated may appear anxious and panicky when acutely withdrawing from the drug (Anthenelli and Schuckit 1993; Anthenelli 1997). In addition to the direct pharmacological effects of alcohol on brain function, psychosocial stressors that commonly occur in heavy–drinking alcoholic patients (e.g., legal, financial, or interpersonal problems) may indirectly contribute to ongoing alcohol–related symptoms, such as sadness, despair, and anxiety (Anthenelli 1997; Anthenelli and Schuckit 1993).

Alcohol–Induced Psychiatric Syndromes It is clinically useful to distinguish between assorted commonly occurring, alcohol–induced psychiatric symptoms and signs on the one hand and frank alcohol–induced psychiatric syndromes on the other hand. A syndrome generally is defined as a constellation of symptoms and signs that coalesce in a predictable pattern in an individual over a discrete period of time.

Such syndromes largely correspond to the sets of diagnostic criteria used for classifying mental disorders throughout the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM–IV) (American Psychiatric Association 1994) and its successor, the DSM–IV Text Revision (DSM–IV–TR) (APA 2000).

Publication of the DSM–IV marked the first time that clinicians could specifically diagnose several “alcohol–induced disorders” rather than having to lump alcohol–related conditions under the more generic rubric of an “organic mental syndrome” (Anthenelli 1997).

• Given the broad range of effects heavy drinking may have on psychological function, these alcohol–induced disorders span several categories of mental disorders, including mood, anxiety, psychotic, sleep, sexual, delirious, amnestic, and dementia disorders.
• According to the DSM–IV, the essential feature of all these alcohol–induced disorders is the presence of prominent and persistent symptoms, which are judged—based on their onset and course as well as on the patient’s history, physical exam, and laboratory findings—to be the result of the direct physiological effects of alcohol.

To be classified as alcohol–induced disorders, these conditions also must occur within 4 weeks of the last use of or withdrawal from alcohol and should be of clinical significance beyond what is expected from typical alcohol withdrawal or intoxication (APA 1994).

The diagnostic criteria of the DSM–IV and DSM–IV–TR do not clearly distinguish between alcohol–related psychiatric symptoms and signs and alcohol–induced psychiatric syndromes. Instead, these criteria sets state more broadly that any alcohol–related psychiatric complaint that fits the definition given in the paragraph above and which “warrants independent clinical attention” be labeled an alcohol–induced disorder (APA 1994, 2000).

In other words, alcohol–related psychiatric symptoms and signs can be labeled an alcohol–induced psychiatric disorder in DSM–IV or DSM–IV–TR without qualifying as syndromes. Alcohol–induced psychiatric disorders may initially be indistinguishable from the independent psychiatric disorders they mimic.

1. However, what differentiates these two groups of disorders is that alcohol–induced disorders typically improve on their own within several weeks of abstinence without requiring therapies beyond supportive care (Anthenelli and Schuckit 1993; Anthenelli 1997; Brown et al.1991, 1995).
2. Thus, the course and prognosis of alcohol–induced psychiatric disorders are different from those of the independent major psychiatric disorders, which are discussed in the next section.

Alcoholism with Comorbid, Independent Psychiatric Disorders Alcoholism is also associated with several psychiatric disorders that develop independently of the alcoholism and may precede alcohol use and abuse. These independent disorders may make certain vulnerable patients more prone to developing alcohol–related problems (Helzer and Przybeck 1988; Kessler et al.1997; Schuckit et al.1997 b ).

• One of the most common of these comorbid conditions is ASPD, an axis II personality disorder 1 ( 1 The DSM–IV classifies mental disorders along several levels, or axes.
• In this classification, axis II disorders include personality disorders, such as ASPD or obsessive–compulsive disorder, as well as mental retardation; axis I disorders include all other mental disorders, such as anxiety, eating, mood, psychotic, sleep, and drug–related disorders.) marked by a longstanding pattern of irresponsibility and violating the rights of others that generally predates the problems with alcohol.

Axis I disorders commonly associated with alcoholism include bipolar disorder, certain anxiety disorders (e.g., social phobia, panic disorder, and post–traumatic stress disorder ), schizophrenia, and major depression (Helzer and Przybeck 1988; Kessler et al.1997).

PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH ALCOHOLISM Independent Major Depression Mood disturbances (which frequently are not severe enough to qualify as “disorders”) are arguably the most common psychiatric complaint among treatment–seeking alcoholic patients, affecting upwards of 80 percent of alcoholics at some point in their drinking careers (Brown and Schuckit 1988; Anthenelli and Schuckit 1993). In keeping with the three broad categories described above into which such complaints may fall, mood problems may be characterized as one of the following:

An expected, time–limited consequence of alcohol’s depressant effects on the brain A more organized constellation of symptoms and signs (i.e., a syndrome) reflecting an alcohol–induced mood disorder with depressive features An independent major depressive disorder coexisting with or even predating alcoholism.

When one applies these more precise definitional criteria and classifies only those patients as depressive who meet the criteria for a syndrome of a major depressive episode, approximately 30 to 40 percent of alcoholics experience a comorbid depressive disorder (Anthenelli and Schuckit 1993; Schuckit et al.1997 a ).

1. Some controversy exists as to the precise cause–and–effect relationship between depression and alcoholism, with some authors pointing out that depressive episodes frequently predate the onset of alcoholism, especially in women (Kessler et al.1997; Helzer and Przybeck 1988; Hesselbrock et al.1985).
2. Several studies found that approximately 60 percent of alcoholics who experience a major depressive episode, especially men, meet the criteria for an alcohol–induced mood disorder with depressive features (Schuckit et al.1997 a ; Davidson 1995).

The remaining approximately 40 percent of alcoholic women and men who suffer a depressive episode likely have an independent major depressive disorder—that is, they experienced a major depressive episode before the onset of alcoholism or continue to exhibit depressive symptoms and signs even during lengthy periods of abstinence.

1. In a study of 2,954 alcoholics, Schuckit and colleagues (1997 a ) found that patients with alcohol–induced depression appear to have different characteristics from patients with independent depressive disorders.
2. For example, compared with patients with alcohol–induced depression, patients with independent depression were more likely to be Caucasian, married, and female; less experienced with other illicit drugs; less often treated for alcoholism; more likely to have a history of a prior suicide attempt; and more likely to have a family history of a major mood disorder.

Bipolar Disorder According to two major epidemiological surveys conducted in the past 20 years (Helzer and Przybeck 1988; Kessler et al.1997), bipolar disorder (i.e., mania or manic–depressive illness) is the second–most common axis I disorder associated with alcohol dependence.2 ( 2 The axis I disorders most commonly associated with alcoholism are other drug use disorders.) Among manic patients, 50–60 percent abuse or become dependent on alcohol or other drugs (AODs) at some point in their illness (Brady and Sonne 1995).

1. Diagnosing bipolar disorder in alcoholic patients can be particularly challenging.
2. Several factors, such as the underreporting of symptoms (particularly symptoms of mania), the complex effects of alcohol on mood states, and common features shared by both illnesses (e.g., excessive involvement in pleasurable activities with high potential for painful consequences) reduce diagnostic accuracy.

Bipolar patients are also likely to abuse drugs other than alcohol (e.g., stimulant drugs such as cocaine or methamphetamine), further complicating the diagnosis. As will be described in greater detail later, it can be helpful for an accurate diagnosis to obtain a careful history of the chronological order of both illnesses because approximately 60 percent of patients with both alcoholism and bipolar disorder started using AODs before the onset of affective episodes (Strakowski et al.2000).

Anxiety Disorders Overall, anxiety disorders do not seem to occur at much higher rates among alcoholics than among the general population (Schuckit and Hesselbrock 1994). For example, results from the Epidemiologic Catchment Area survey indicated that among patients who met the lifetime diagnosis of alcohol abuse or dependence, 19.4 percent also carried a lifetime diagnosis of any anxiety disorder.

This corresponds to only about 1.5 times the rate for anxiety disorders in the general population (Regier et al.1990; Kranzler 1996). Specific anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder, social phobia, and PTSD, however, appear to have an increased co–occurrence with alcoholism (Schuckit et al.1997 b ; Kranzler 1996; Brady et al.1995).

As with alcohol–induced depression, it is important to differentiate alcohol–induced anxiety from an independent anxiety disorder. This can be achieved by examining the onset and course of the anxiety disorder. Thus, symptoms and signs of alcohol–induced anxiety disorders typically last for days to several weeks, tend to occur secondary to alcohol withdrawal, and typically resolve relatively quickly with abstinence and supportive treatments (Kranzler 1996; Brown et al.1991).

In contrast, independent anxiety disorders are characterized by symptoms that predate the onset of heavy drinking and which persist during extended sobriety. ASPD and Other Externalizing Disorders Among the axis II personality disorders, ASPD (and the related conduct disorder, which often occurs during childhood in people who subsequently will develop ASPD) has long been recognized to be closely associated with alcoholism (Lewis et al.1983).

• Epidemiologic analyses found that compared with nonalcoholics, alcohol–dependent men are 4–8 times more likely, and alcoholic women are 12–17 times more likely, to have comorbid ASPD (Helzer and Przybeck 1988; Kessler et al.1997).
• Thus, approximately 15 to 20 percent of alcoholic men and 10 percent of alcoholic women have comorbid ASPD, compared with 4 percent of men and approximately 0.8 percent of women in the general population.

Patients with ASPD are likely to develop alcohol dependence at an earlier age than their nonantisocial counterparts and are also more prone to having other drug use disorders (Cadoret et al.1984; Anthenelli et al.1994). In addition to ASPD, other conditions marked by an externalization of impulsive aggressive behaviors, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (Sullivan and Rudnik–Levin 2001), are also associated with increased risk of alcohol–related problems.

(For more information on the relationship between alcoholism and ADHD, see the article by Smith and colleagues, pp.122–129.) A BASIC APPROACH TO DIAGNOSING PATIENTS WITH ALCOHOLISM AND COEXISTING PSYCHIATRIC COMPLAINTS Clinicians working in acute mental health settings often encounter patients who present with psychiatric complaints and heavy alcohol use.

The following sections discuss one approach to diagnosing these challenging patients (also see the figure).

Schematic representation of a diagnostic algorithm for evaluating psychiatric complaints in patients for whom alcoholism may be a contributing factor. The algorithm helps the clinician decide if the complaints represent alcohol–induced symptoms, or an alcohol–induced syndrome that will resolve with abstinence, or an independent psychiatric disorder that requires treatment. SOURCE: Anthenelli 1997.

Inquiring About Alcohol Use When Evaluating Psychiatric Complaints As illustrated by the case example described earlier, patients seldom volunteer information about their alcohol use patterns and problems when they present their psychiatric complaints (Helzer and Przybeck 1988; Anthenelli and Schuckit 1993; Anthenelli 1997).

Unless they are asked directly about their alcohol use, the patients’ denial and minimization of their alcohol–related problems lead them to withhold this important information, which makes assessment and diagnosis difficult. In addition, heavy alcohol use can impair memory, which may make the patient’s information during history–taking less reliable.

Therefore, clinicians should gather information from several resources when assessing patients with possible alcohol–related problems, including collateral informants, the patient’s medical history, laboratory tests, and a thorough physical examination.

After obtaining a patient’s permission, his or her history should be obtained from both the patient and a collateral informant (e.g., a spouse, relative, or close friend). The information these collateral informant interviews yield can serve several purposes. First, by establishing how patterns of alcohol use relate to psychiatric symptoms and their time course, a clinician obtains additional information that can be used in the longitudinal evaluation of the patient’s psychiatric and alcohol problems, as described later.

Second, by defining the role alcohol use plays in a patient’s psychiatric complaints, the clinician is starting to confront the patient’s denial, which is the patient’s defense mechanism for avoiding conscious analysis of the association between drinking and other symptoms.

• Third, by knowing that the clinician will be talking to a family member, the patient may be more likely to offer more accurate information.
• Fourth, if the patient observes that the clinician is interested enough in the case to contact family members, this may help establish a more trustful therapeutic relationship.

Fifth, by involving family members early in the course of treatment, the clinician begins to lay the groundwork toward establishing a supporting network that will become an important part of the patient’s recovery program. Finally, the collateral informant can provide supplemental information about the family history of alcoholism and other psychiatric disorders that can improve diagnostic accuracy (Anthenelli 1997; Anthenelli and Schuckit 1993).

A review of the patient’s medical records is another potentially rich source of information. This review should look for evidence of previous psychiatric complaints or of laboratory results that might further implicate alcohol in the patient’s psychiatric problems (Allen et al.2000). Pertinent laboratory results could include positive breath or blood alcohol tests; an elevation in biochemical markers of heavy drinking, such as the liver enzyme gamma–glutamyltransferase (GGT); and changes in the mean volume of the red blood cells (i.e., mean corpuscular volume), which also is an indicator of heavy drinking.

Laboratory tests, such as breathalyzer analyses or determination of blood alcohol concentrations, should also be performed to search for evidence of recent alcohol use that might aid in the assessment. These results also can provide indirect evidence of tolerance to alcohol (one of the diagnostic criteria of alcohol dependence) if the clinician documents relatively normal cognitive, behavioral, and psychomotor performance in the presence of blood alcohol concentrations that would render most people markedly impaired.

• Subsequent laboratory testing may also need to include other diagnostic procedures, such as brain imaging studies, to rule out indirect alcohol–related medical causes of the psychiatric complaints.
• For example, alcoholics suffering from head trauma might have hematomas (i.e., “blood blisters”) in the brain or other traumatic brain injuries that could cause psychiatric symptoms and signs (Anthenelli 1997).

Finally, all patients should undergo a complete physical examination. During this examination, the clinician should pay attention to physical manifestations of heavy alcohol use, such as an enlarged, tender liver. The combination of positive results on laboratory tests and physical examination points strongly to a diagnosis of alcohol abuse or dependence.

1. This information can be used later on, when the physician presents his or her diagnosis to the patient and begins to confront the denial associated with the addiction (Anthenelli 1997).
2. Differentiating Alcohol–Related Symptoms from Syndromic Mental Disorders If the clinician suspects a diagnosis of alcoholism is appropriate, the next step is to evaluate the psychiatric complaints in this context.

As mentioned earlier, alcohol produces its mind–altering and reinforcing effects by causing changes in the same neurotransmitter and receptor 3 ( 3 Receptors are protein molecules located on the surface of a cell that interact with extracellular signaling molecules, such as neurotransmitters and hormones, and convey that signal to the cell’s interior to induce the appropriate response.) systems that are associated with most major psychiatric disease states.

• Partly as a result of these direct brain effects, heavy alcohol use causes psychiatric symptoms and signs that can mimic most major psychiatric disorders.
• These changes occur both in the absence and presence of alcohol, and during the initial assessment the clinician should determine when in the patient’s drinking cycle (i.e., during intoxication, acute withdrawal, protracted withdrawal, or stable abstinence for at least 3 months) these complaints are occurring.

Because heavy alcohol use can cause psychological disturbances, patients who present with co–occurring psychiatric and alcohol problems often do not suffer from two independent disorders (i.e., do not require two independent diagnoses). Therefore, the clinician’s job is to combine the data obtained from the multiple resources cited in the previous section and to establish a working diagnosis.

1. It may be helpful to begin this process by differentiating between alcohol–related symptoms and signs and alcohol–induced syndromes.
2. Thus, the preferred definition of the term “diagnosis” here refers to a constellation of symptoms and signs, or a syndrome, with a generally predictable course and duration of illness as outlined by DSM–IV.

Although heavy, prolonged alcohol use can produce psychiatric symptoms or, in some patients, more severe and protracted alcohol–induced psychiatric syndromes, these alcohol–related conditions are likely to improve markedly with abstinence. This characteristic distinguishes them from the major independent psychiatric disorders they mimic.

Distinguishing Between Alcohol–Induced Syndromes and Independent Comorbid Disorders Even after determining that a patient’s constellation of symptoms and signs has reached syndromic levels and warrants a diagnosis of a mood, anxiety, or psychotic disorder, the possibility remains that the patient has an independent comorbid disorder that may require treatment rather than an alcohol–induced syndrome that resolves with abstinence.

Although some people experience more persistent alcohol–induced conditions (and some controversy remains over how to treat those patients), only clients with independent comorbid disorders should be labeled as having a dual diagnosis. One approach to distinguishing independent versus alcohol–induced diagnoses is to start by analyzing the chronology of development of symptom clusters (Schuckit and Monteiro 1988).

• Using this technique as well as the DSM–IV guidelines, one can identify alcohol–induced disorders as those conditions in which several symptoms and signs occur simultaneously (i.e., cluster) and cause significant distress in the setting of heavy alcohol use or withdrawal (APA 1994).
• For example, a patient who exhibits psychiatric symptoms and signs only during recurrent alcohol use and after he or she has met the criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence is likely to have an alcohol–induced psychiatric condition.

In contrast, a patient who exhibits symptoms and signs of a psychiatric condition (e.g., bipolar disorder) in the absence of problematic AOD use most likely has an independent disorder that requires appropriate treatment. Establishing a timeline of the patient’s comorbid conditions (Anthenelli and Schuckit 1993; Anthenelli 1997), using collateral information from outside informants and the data obtained from the review of the medical records, may be helpful in determining the chronological course of the disorders.

In this context the clinician should focus on the age at which the patient first met the criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence rather than on the age when the patient first imbibed or became intoxicated. This strategy provides more specific information about the onset of problematic drinking that typically presages the onset of alcoholism (Schuckit et al.1995).

If the clinician cannot determine exactly the time point when the patient met the criteria for abuse or dependence, this information can be approximated by determining when the patient developed alcohol–related problems that interfered with his or her life in a major way and affected the ability to function.

Probing for such problems typically includes four areas— legal, occupational, and medical problems as well as social relationships. The age–at–onset of alcoholism then is estimated by establishing the first time that alcohol actually interfered in two or more of these major domains or the first time an individual received treatment for alcoholism.

Further questioning should address whether the patient ever developed tolerance to the effects of alcohol or suffered from signs and symptoms of withdrawal when he or she stopped using the drug, both of which are diagnostic criteria for alcohol dependence.

After establishing the chronology of the alcohol problems, the patient’s psychiatric symptoms and signs are reviewed across the lifespan. The patient’s recollection of when these problems appeared can be improved by framing the interview around important landmarks in time (e.g., the year the patient graduated, her or his military discharge date, and so forth) and by the collateral information obtained.

This method not only ensures the most accurate chronological reconstruction of a patient’s problems, but also, on a therapeutic basis, helps the patient recognize the relationship between his or her AOD abuse and psychological problems. Thus, this approach begins to confront some of the mechanisms that help the patient deny these associations (Anthenelli and Schuckit 1993; Anthenelli 1997).

• While establishing this chronological history, it is important for the clinician to probe for any periods of stable abstinence that a patient may have had, noting how this period of sobriety affected the patient’s psychiatric problems.
• Using a somewhat conservative approach, such a probe should focus on periods of abstinence lasting at least 3 months because some mood, psychovegetative (e.g., altered energy levels and sleep disturbance), perceptual, and behavioral symptoms and signs related to AOD use can persist for some time.

By using this timeline approach, the clinician generally can arrive at a working diagnosis that helps to predict the most likely course of the patient’s condition and can begin putting together a treatment plan. Considering Other Patient Characteristics When evaluating the likelihood of a patient having an independent psychiatric disorder versus an alcohol–induced condition, it also may be helpful to consider other patient characteristics, such as gender or family history of psychiatric illnesses.

• For example, it is well established that women are more likely than men to suffer from independent depressive or anxiety disorders (Kessler et al.1997).
• Not surprisingly, alcoholic women are also more prone than alcoholic men to having independent mood or anxiety disorders (Kessler et al.1997).
• Alcoholic women and men also seem to differ in the temporal order of the onset of these conditions, with most mood and anxiety disorders predating the onset of alcoholism in women (Kessler et al.1997).

Given these observations, it is especially important in female patients to perform a thorough psychiatric review that probes for major mood disorders (i.e., major depression and bipolar disorder) and anxiety disorders (e.g., social phobia). Knowledge of the psychiatric illnesses that run in the patient’s family also may enhance diagnostic accuracy.

• For example, men and women with alcohol dependence and independent major depressive episodes have been found to have an increased likelihood of having a family history of major mood disorders (Schuckit et al.1997 a ).
• Similar findings have been obtained for alcohol–dependent bipolar patients (Preisig et al.2001).

Thus, a family history of a major psychiatric disorder other than alcoholism in an individual may increase the likelihood of that patient having a dual diagnosis. Remaining Flexible with Diagnosis and Follow Up Once a working diagnosis has been established, it is important for the clinician to remain flexible with his or her assessment and to continue to monitor the patient over time.

• Like most initial psychiatric assessments, the basic approach described here is hardly foolproof.
• Therefore, it is important to monitor a patient’s course and, if necessary, revise the diagnosis, even if improvement occurs with abstinence and supportive treatment alone during the first weeks of sobriety.

The importance of continued followup for several weeks also is supported by empirical data showing that most major symptoms and signs are resolved within the first 4 weeks of abstinence. Therefore, unless there is ample evidence to suspect the patient has an independent psychiatric disorder, a 2– to 4–week observation period is usually advised before considering the use of most psychotropic medications.

The Case Example Revisited Recognizing that this was an emergency situation and that alcoholics have an increased rate of suicide (Hirschfeld and Russell 1997), the emergency room clinician admitted the patient to the acute psychiatric ward for an evaluation. The clinician also obtained the patient’s permission to speak with his wife.

Despite the patient’s denial of alcoholism, this interview with a collateral informant corroborated the clinician’s suspicion that the man had long–standing problems with alcohol that dated back to his mid–20s. Laboratory tests showing an elevated GGT level supported the diagnosis.

1. Moreover, a review of the patient’s medical records showed a previous hospitalization for suicidal ideation and depression 2 years earlier, after the patient’s mother had died.
2. The clinician then formulated a working diagnosis of probable alcohol–induced mood disorder with depressive features, based on three pieces of information.

First, the patient had stated that his depression started about 1 week before admission, after his wife and family members confronted him about his drinking. This confrontation triggered a more intense drinking binge that ended only hours before his arrival in the emergency room.

The patient complained of irritable mood and increased feelings of guilt during the past week, and he admitted he had been drinking heavily during that period. However, he denied other symptoms and signs of a major depressive episode during that period. Second, the medical records indicated that the patient’s previous bout of depression and suicidal ideation had improved with abstinence and supportive and group psychotherapy during his prior hospitalization.

At that time, the patient had been transferred to the hospital’s alcoholism treatment unit after 2 weeks, where he had learned some of the principles that had led to his longest abstinence of 18 months. Third, both the patient and his wife said that during this period of prolonged abstinence the patient showed gradual continued improvement in his mood.

He had worked an active 12–step program of sobriety and had returned to his job as an office manager. During the first week of the current hospitalization, the patient’s suicidal ideation disappeared entirely and his mood gradually improved. He was transferred to the open unit and participated more actively in support groups.

His denial of his alcoholism waned with persistent gentle confrontation by his counselors, and he began attending the hospital’s 12–step program. Three weeks after admission, he continued to exhibit improvement in his mood but still complained of some difficulty sleeping.

• However, he felt reassured by the clinician’s explanation that the sleep disturbance was likely a remnant of his heavy drinking that should continue to improve with prolonged abstinence.
• Nevertheless, the clinician scheduled followup appointments with the patient to continue monitoring his mood and sleep patterns.

SUMMARY Alcohol abuse can cause signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety, psychosis, and antisocial behavior, both during intoxication and during withdrawal. At times, these symptoms and signs cluster, last for weeks, and mimic frank psychiatric disorders (i.e., are alcohol–induced syndromes).

1. These alcohol–related conditions usually disappear after several days or weeks of abstinence.
2. Prematurely labeling these conditions as major depression, panic disorder, schizophrenia, or ASPD can lead to misdiagnosis and inattention to a patient’s principal problem—the alcohol abuse or dependence.
3. With knowledge of the different courses and prognoses of alcohol–induced psychiatric disorders, an understanding of the comorbid independent disorders one needs to rule out, an organized approach to diagnosis, ample collateral information, and practice, however, the clinician can improve diagnostic accuracy in this challenging patient population.

NOTE Parts of this paper were previously presented in: Anthenelli, R.M. A basic clinical approach to diagnosis in patients with comorbid psychiatric and substance use disorders. In: Miller, N.S., ed. Principles and Practice of Addictions in Psychiatry. Philadelphia: W.B.

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What is the most common medication for alcohol dependence?

Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder (MAUD) – Acamprosate, disulfiram, and naltrexone are the most common drugs used to treat alcohol use disorder (AUD). They do not provide a cure for the disorder but are most effective in people who participate in a MAUD program.

Acamprosate – is for people in recovery, who are no longer drinking alcohol and want to avoid drinking. It works to prevent people from drinking alcohol, but it does not prevent withdrawal symptoms after people drink alcohol. The use of acamprosate typically begins on the fifth day of abstinence, reaching full effectiveness in five to eight days. It is taken in tablet form three times a day. Disulfiram – treats chronic alcoholism and is most effective in people who have already stopped drinking alcohol or are in the initial stage of abstinence. Taken in a tablet form once a day, disulfiram should never be taken while intoxicated and it should not be taken for at least 12 hours after drinking alcohol. Unpleasant side effects (nausea, headache, vomiting, chest pains, difficulty breathing) can occur as soon as ten minutes after drinking even a small amount of alcohol. Naltrexone – blocks the euphoric effects and feelings of intoxication and allows people with alcohol use disorders to reduce alcohol use and to remain motivated to continue to take the medication, stay in treatment, and avoid relapses.

To learn more about medications for AUD view Medication for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder: A Brief Guide and TIP 49: Incorporating Alcohol Pharmacotherapies Into Medical Practice,

Is naltrexone safe for long term use?

To date, there are no known problems associated with long term use of naltrexone. It is a safe and effective medication when used as directed.

How many drinks a day is alcohol dependence?

Depending on if you’re male or female, if you have more than four or five drinks a day it’s likely alcohol abuse, This is especially true if you’re drinking within a two-hour period. It could also be considered alcohol abuse if you have more than one drink a day if you’re female, and more than two drinks if you’re a male.

What is considered alcohol dependence?

(AL-kuh-hol dee-PEN-dents) A chronic disease in which a person craves drinks that contain alcohol and is unable to control his or her drinking. A person with this disease also needs to drink greater amounts to get the same effect and has withdrawal symptoms after stopping alcohol use.