Alcohol addiction and psychiatric comorbidity: assessmente, treatment and outcome in a sample of patients at a psychiatric department. II Outcame

This study is the second part of a wider research project started 3 years ago with 47 patients treated at the Psycho-Social Center (CPS) and the Operative Psychiatric Unit of the local health unit of Pavia, north Italy. Reassessment after two and a half years confirms that severity of social marginalisation, stress-inducing life events and the high incidence of alcoholism and concomitant psychiatric disorders among relatives are the most important patient characteristic. Despite this overall picture, however, there have been 16 remissions of alcohol dependece and abuse compared to the 3 remissions reported earlier. Improvement in the psychological disturbances is also reported with 4 remissions of depression, 3 remissions of schizophrenic disturbances, usually occurring subsequent to the patient achieving abstinence. Any worsening of patient physical conditions can be correlated to both the onset of a new disease and persistent abusive drinking. The results confirm the complex management requirements of alcoholics with co-existing psychiatric disorders. Although therapy must be personalized and long-term, this should not discourage continued provision of assistance.