Differences between craving and health-related quality of life in patients with alcohol dependence with or without dual pathology in outpatient treatment: A descriptive study

Gender and addiction and other mental disorders comorbidity: sociodemographic, clinical, and treatment differences

The co-occurrence of substance use disorders (SUD) and other mental disorders (OMD) is assumed to be high, but the details are uncertain in Spain. The objective of the present study was to know the prevalence of this comorbidity, as well as the pharmacological treatment, both in specific addiction treatment networks and in mental health networks, with a gender perspective. Observational, multicenter study, with a randomized sample, of patients under treatment for SUD or OMD in Spain (N = 1783). A specific questionnaire, collecting sociodemographic and clinical variables, diagnosed SUD and OMD, and prescribed psychotropic drugs, was completed by treating clinicians. Differences between females and males were searched. A high prevalence of OMD was found in those patients treated for their SUD (71%), and also of diagnoses of SUD (59%) in people treated for OMD. Significant relationships between addiction to certain substances and specific mental disorders were found (with no main differences between women and men). The treatments for OMD were very common in the addiction treatment networks, but that of SUDs in those patients treated in the mental health networks was less than expected. A high prescription of benzodiazepines was found. Women were less frequently diagnosed with cannabis, opioid, and especially cocaine use disorders, and they had fewer psychotic disorders and more affective, anxiety, sleep, and eating disorders, with the rest being the same, including personality disorders. Women had fewer treatments with agonists and more with antagonists, and more prescriptions of anxiolytics and antidepressants. This study provides preliminary information on the coexistence in routine clinical practice of addictive disorders and other mental disorders in Spain, and on the treatment provided, and shows differences in prevalence and clinical characteristics, and especially in treatment approaches between women and men. Thus, should be useful to adapt the treatment response with greater precision, and with a gender perspective.

Problematic Internet Use and Perceived Quality of Life: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study Investigating Work-Time and Leisure-Time Internet Use

Avoiding the potential negative impact brought by problematic internet use is becoming more important. To better understand public health and addiction, this study investigated to what extent work-time and leisure-time internet use relate to problematic internet use and perceived quality of life among college students and highly educated adults. An online cross-sectional survey with 446 individuals was assessed in Germany. Linear regression analyses were used to predict problematic internet use. Ordinal regression analyses were applied to predict perceived quality of life. Results showed that leisure-time internet use, but not work-time internet use, was positively associated with problematic internet use. Participants whose work-time internet use could be considered balanced (5–28 h/week in this study) indicated a higher perceived quality of life compared to individuals with little or large amount of internet use for work. The findings still emerged when taking negative feelings, perceived stress, smoking status and alcohol consumption into account. As both work-time and leisure-time internet use can be risk factors for mental health in terms of problematic internet use and perceived quality of life, well-controlled internet use rather than excessive use is recommended. This should be kept in mind when dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic and its aftermath.

The Influence of Alexithymia on Alcohol Craving, Health-Related Quality of Life and Gender in Alcohol-Dependent Outpatients

Alexithymia is a vulnerability factor for physical and mental illness that can significantly influence the daily function of alcohol-dependent patients. The aim of this study was to examine the indirect effect of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors involving alcohol craving on the relationship between alexithymia, quality of life (QoL) of psychological well-being and health status. Three hundred and eighty-one outpatients (263 males and 118 females) in treatment for alcohol dependence completed self-report measures of alexithymia, alcohol craving, GHQ-28 (QoL-psychological well-being) and SF-36 (QoL-health status). Males scored significantly higher than females on aspects of alexithymia, and females reported significantly higher levels of alcohol craving. Path analysis showed an indirect effect of alcohol craving on the relationship between alexithymia, QoL-psychological well-being and self-reported QoL-health status for males only. The current study provides important new information about impaired self-reported health status and well-being among male alcohol-dependent treatment seekers with alexithymia.

Mood Disorders and Severity of Addiction in Alcohol-Dependent Patients Could Be Mediated by Sex Differences

Background: Alcohol dependence is highly prevalent in the general population; some differences in alcohol use and dependence between women and men have been described, including outcomes and ranging from biological to social variables. This study aims to compare the severity of alcohol dependence with clinical and psychopathological characteristics between sexes. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in alcohol-dependent outpatients; the recruitment period was 7 years. The assessment of these patients was carried out by obtaining sociodemographic characteristics and using the Semi-structured Clinical Interview for Axis I and II (SCID-I and SCID-II), European version of the Addiction Severity Index (EuropASI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scales. Variables were compared and analyzed. Results: The sample was composed of 178 patients (74.2% males and 25.8% females) with a mean age of 46.52 ± 9.86. No sociodemographic differences were found between men and women. Females had a higher rate of suicide attempts and depression symptoms at the treatment onset. When results of EuropASI were compared, females had worse psychological and employment results than males. According to consumption variables, males had an earlier onset of alcohol use, had more regular alcohol use, and develop alcohol dependence earlier than females. Conclusions: According to results, there are sex-dependent differences (severity and other variables such as mood or suicide) in alcohol dependence. Thus, this may implicate the need of future specific research and treatment programs based on the specific necessities of each sex.