The impact of co-morbid alcohol use disorder in bipolar patients

The impact of co-morbid alcohol use disorder in bipolar patients

Abstract Alcohol use is highly prevalent in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. The detrimental effects of each condition are compounded by the presence of the other. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of alcohol abuse an...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Alcohol (Fayetteville, N.Y.) Vol. 42; no. 6; pp. 451 - 457
Main Authors: Cardoso, Betina Mariante, Kauer Sant'Anna, Márcia, Dias, Vasco Videira, Andreazza, Ana Christina, Ceresér, Keila Maria, Kapczinski, Flávio
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-09-2008
Elsevier Limited
Subjects:
Adult
Alcohol
Alcohol use
Alcoholism - epidemiology
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders - epidemiology
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar Disorder - epidemiology
Brazil - epidemiology
Comorbidity
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Functioning
Humans
Male
Medical research
Mental disorders
Middle Aged
Mortality
Psychiatry
Substance use disorder
Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology
Suicide
Suicide, Attempted - statistics & numerical data
Suicides & suicide attempts
Brazil
Substance use disorder
Bipolar disorder
Alcohol
Suicide
Functioning
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract Alcohol use is highly prevalent in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. The detrimental effects of each condition are compounded by the presence of the other. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of alcohol abuse and of alcohol dependence in BD in a Brazilian sample, as indicated by clinical severity, functional impairment, and quality of life (QOL). A cross-sectional survey of 186 bipolar outpatients were interviewed using the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders —4th Edition. The primary outcome measures were functioning, as indicated by the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale scores and QOL, as indicated by the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument. Secondary outcomes were clinical severity features. Alcohol abuse and dependence were associated with male gender, lower education, earlier age of onset, psychosis within first episode, depressive symptoms, and worse functioning. In addition, the presence of alcohol abuse or dependence was associated with remarkably high rates of suicide attempt. Our findings suggest that the co-occurrence of alcohol abuse/dependence with BD increases the risk for suicide attempt, which may reflect in part the greater severity of symptoms and impaired functioning. This subgroup of bipolar patients requires a treatment tailored to address both conditions.
ISSN:0741-8329
1873-6823
DOI:10.1016/j.alcohol.2008.05.003