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| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2009 |
Volume
: 34 | Issue : 2 | Page
: 148-151 |
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Outcome of alcohol dependence: The role of continued care
Pratima Murthy1, Prabhat Chand1, MG Harish1, K Thennarasu2, S Prathima1, Karappuchamy1, N Janakiramiah1
1 Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore - 560 029, India
2 Department of Biostatistics, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore - 560 029, India
Correspondence Address:
Prabhat Chand
Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore - 560 029
India
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DOI: 10.4103/0970-0218.51226 PMID: 19966963
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Aims: This study attempted to determine the effects of continued care on subjects with alcohol dependence. Materials and Methods: Study patients were recruited from a slum in Bangalore. The control group comprised individuals from a lower socio-economic status. Both groups received identical treatment from a specialised de-addiction facility. The study group also received weekly continued care in the community, either at a clinic located within the slum or through home visits. Those patients without stable jobs were referred for employment. The control group was given routine hospital follow-up visits. Both groups were evaluated on the Alcohol Problem Questionnaire and quantity/frequency of drinking at baseline and every 3 month interval for one year after discharge. Results: Both groups showed improvement in terms of reduction of drinking at 3 months, with the study group showing a 64% improvement with respect to the number of non drinking days and the control group showed a 50% improvement. However, at 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months, the study group continued to maintain these gains while the control group showed a downward slide (differences significant at P <0.05). At the end of 12 months, the study group maintained a 53% improvement with respect to the number of non drinking days as compared with baseline, while the control group had an improvement of only 28%. Conclusions: Follow-up support and continued care appear to significantly improve longer-term recovery in alcohol dependents. |
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