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Trompeter N, Williamson C, Rona RJ, Carr E, Simms A, Agwuna J, Fear NT, Goodwin L, Murphy D, Shearer J, Leightley D. Shorter communications: Exploring the impact of a brief smartphone-based alcohol intervention app (DrinksRation) on the quality of life of UK military veterans. Behav Res Ther 2024; 177:104540. [PMID: 38598898 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2024.104540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Alcohol misuse - defined as consuming more than 14 units of alcohol per week - is a well-established problem among veterans. This study investigated the change in quality of life among help-seeking UK veterans who completed a 28-day brief alcohol intervention delivered via a digital smartphone application (called DrinksRation) and have previously sought clinical help for a mental health disorder. This study was a secondary outcome analysis of data collected during a randomised control trial. In total, 123 UK veterans participated in the study and were randomly allocated to either the intervention or control arm. Participants completed self-report questionnaires regarding their alcohol use and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) at baseline, day 28 (end of intervention), day 84, and day 168. At the primary endpoint (day 84), we found significantly greater improvements in the intervention arm compared to the control arm for psychological quality of life (Cohen's d = 0.47), and environmental quality of life (d = 0.34). However, we observed no statistically significant differences between the intervention and control arm for social relationships and physical quality of life. Further, for day 168 we found no significant differences. Findings suggest that DrinksRation can increase quality of life among help-seeking veterans who have previously sought help for a mental health disorder, but the increases were modest and restricted to certain domains. Additional treatment may be needed for long-term and sustained improvements in quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Trompeter
- King's Centre for Military Health Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom.
| | - Charlotte Williamson
- King's Centre for Military Health Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom.
| | - Roberto J Rona
- King's Centre for Military Health Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom.
| | - Ewan Carr
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Amos Simms
- British Army and Academic Department of Military Mental Health, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Joan Agwuna
- King's Health Economics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Nicola T Fear
- Academic Department of Military Mental Health, King's College London, London, United Kingdom and King's Centre for Military Health Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom.
| | - Laura Goodwin
- Division of Health Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom.
| | - Dominic Murphy
- King's Centre for Military Health Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom and Combat Stress, Leatherhead, United Kingdom.
| | - James Shearer
- King's Health Economics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Daniel Leightley
- School of Life Course & Population Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London; and King's Centre for Military Health Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom.
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Huang H, Shen H, Ning K, Zhang R, Sun W, Li B, Jiang H, Wang W, Du J, Zhao M, Yi Z, Li J, Zhu R, Lu S, Xie S, Wang X, Fu W, Gao C, Hao W. Quality of Life and Its Correlates in Alcohol Use Disorder Patients With and Without Depression in China. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:627338. [PMID: 33551885 PMCID: PMC7862321 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.627338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a serious issue worldwide and frequently co-occurs with depression. However, the quality of life (QOL) of AUD patients with and without depression is not well studied in the Chinese Han population. The aim of this study was to investigate QOL and its correlates in AUD patients with and without depression in China. Methods: Five hundred and fifteen psychiatric patients diagnosed with AUD were recruited. All these patients completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to assess depression, the Medical Outcome Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) to evaluate QOL and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) to measure the severity of drinking. Results: Compared with AUD patients without depression, those with depression had a lower QOL in all eight domains of the SF-36 (all P < 0.001), but were more willing to have alcohol-related treatment (P < 0.05). Negative correlations were noted between (i) the BDI total score and all eight domains of the SF-36 (all P < 0.001); and (ii) between the AUDIT total score and six domains of the SF-36 (all P < 0.05). Conclusions: Depression impairs QOL in patients with AUD in China. Early intervention in comorbid depression to improve QOL is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Huang
- Affiliated Wuhan Mental Health Center, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hongxian Shen
- Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health of Hunan Province, The China National Clinical Research Center for Mental Health Disorders, National Technology Institute of Psychiatry, Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Kui Ning
- Henan Mental Hospital, Xinxiang, China
| | | | - Wei Sun
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Bing Li
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, China
| | | | | | - Jiang Du
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Zhao
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhihua Yi
- West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Li
- West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | | | | | | | | | - Wei Fu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Xian Jiaotong University, Xian, China
| | - Chengge Gao
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Xian Jiaotong University, Xian, China
| | - Wei Hao
- Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health of Hunan Province, The China National Clinical Research Center for Mental Health Disorders, National Technology Institute of Psychiatry, Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Ekmekci Ertek I, Taner ME, Nazik Yüksel R, Ozan Kotan V, Göka E. Quality of life and pain perception in alcohol dependence: A comparative examination of patients, their relatives, and healthy controls. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2019.1612473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Irem Ekmekci Ertek
- Department of Psychiatry, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Ender Taner
- Department of Psychiatry, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Rabia Nazik Yüksel
- Department of Psychiatry, Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Vahap Ozan Kotan
- Department of Psychiatry, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Erol Göka
- Department of Psychiatry, Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
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Gabriels CM, Macharia M, Weich L. Psychiatric comorbidity and quality of life in South African alcohol use disorder patients. Qual Life Res 2018; 27:2975-2981. [PMID: 30088122 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-018-1951-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the psychopathology accompanying alcohol use disorder (AUD) is important as it impacts negatively on quality of life (QoL) with subsequent implications for treatment and recovery. We evaluated the association of psychiatric comorbidity with QoL among treatment-seeking South African AUD patients. METHODS Cross-sectional assessment of 101 (Male, n = 65; 64.5%) patients with AUD was done using the World Health Organisation Quality of Life (WHOQoL)-Bref, the World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Scale (WHODAS) and Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) to collect QoL, disability and psychopathology data, respectively. RESULTS Psychiatric comorbidity was noted in 63 (62.3%) of the patients with most (55.6%) having more than one disorder. Mood (39; 61.9%) and anxiety (33; 52.4%) were the most common co-occurring disorders. Disability scores were not significantly different between comorbidity and gender groups However, QoL scores were significantly lower for participants with comorbidity in three of the four WHOQOL domains and declined with increasing number of psychiatric disorders. Focussing on the two main psychopathologies, participants with anxiety alone consistently had the lowest QoL scores compared to those with neither or both disorders (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION The results confirm the well-known high rate of psychiatric comorbidity in patients with AUD and the negative impact it has on QoL. The results should alert clinicians managing AUD patients to screen for comorbid psychopathology and include findings into their treatment plan as this may impact on the patient's QoL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charnotte M Gabriels
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Second Floor, Clinical Building, Tygerberg Medical Campus, Francie van Zijl Drive, Cape Town, 7505, South Africa
| | - Muiruri Macharia
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Second Floor, Clinical Building, Tygerberg Medical Campus, Francie van Zijl Drive, Cape Town, 7505, South Africa.
| | - Lize Weich
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Second Floor, Clinical Building, Tygerberg Medical Campus, Francie van Zijl Drive, Cape Town, 7505, South Africa
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Teeters JB, Lancaster CL, Brown DG, Back SE. Substance use disorders in military veterans: prevalence and treatment challenges. Subst Abuse Rehabil 2017; 8:69-77. [PMID: 28919834 PMCID: PMC5587184 DOI: 10.2147/sar.s116720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a significant problem among our nation's military veterans. In the following overview, we provide information on the prevalence of SUDs among military veterans, clinical characteristics of SUDs, options for screening and evidence-based treatment, as well as relevant treatment challenges. Among psychotherapeutic approaches, behavioral interventions for the management of SUDs typically involve short-term, cognitive-behavioral therapy interventions. These interventions focus on the identification and modification of maladaptive thoughts and behaviors associated with increased craving, use, or relapse to substances. Additionally, client-centered motivational interviewing approaches focus on increasing motivation to engage in treatment and reduce substance use. A variety of pharmacotherapies have received some support in the management of SUDs, primarily to help with the reduction of craving or withdrawal symptoms. Currently approved medications as well as treatment challenges are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenni B Teeters
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Ralph H Johnson Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Cynthia L Lancaster
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Ralph H Johnson Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Delisa G Brown
- Department of Human Development and Psychoeducation, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Sudie E Back
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Ralph H Johnson Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA
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Wasmuth S, Pritchard K. Theater-Based Community Engagement Project for Veterans Recovering From Substance Use Disorders. Am J Occup Ther 2016; 70:7004250020. [DOI: 10.5014/ajot.2016.018333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
In this study, we examine the feasibility and acceptability of a 6-wk, interdisciplinary, occupation-based theater project for facilitating community engagement and substance use disorder (SUD) recovery in veterans. All data were collected at baseline, postintervention, and 6-wk and 6-mo follow-up intervals. Of the invited veterans, 24% consented to participate (n = 14), and 50% were retained (n = 7). Average attendance was 91%. Considerable improvements in social and occupational participation were noted at postintervention and at 6-wk follow-up but were not retained at 6 mo. No important change in self-efficacy was noted. Of the participants, 86% remained abstinent for 6 wk following the intervention. Theater provides a feasible and acceptable resource for potentially facilitating SUD recovery. Larger controlled effectiveness studies of theater are needed to examine whether robust and notable recovery outcomes in people with SUDs can be linked to participation in theater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally Wasmuth
- Sally Wasmuth, PhD, OTR, is Assistant Professor, College of Health Sciences, School of Occupational Therapy, University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN; at the time of the study, she was Associated Health Research Fellow, Center for Health Information and Technology, Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN;
| | - Kevin Pritchard
- Kevin Pritchard, MS, OTR, is Occupational Therapist, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL; at the time of the study, he was Occupational Therapy Master’s Student, Department of Occupational Therapy, Indiana University—Indianapolis
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