Increased severity of alcohol withdrawal in in-patient alcoholics with a co-existing anxiety diagnosis.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether alcoholics with a co-existing anxiety disorder (dual-diagnosed group) experienced different withdrawal symptomatology from alcoholics without an anxiety disorder (alcohol-only group). Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal were measured on admission to an in-patient treatment program and throughout treatment (days 0, 2, 7, 14 and 21) using the revised Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA-Ar) scale. The dual-diagnosed group exhibited more severe alcohol withdrawal, as indicated by higher total CIWA-Ar scores, at all time points than the alcohol-only group. The possibility that anxiety disorders and alcohol withdrawal share a common neurochemical basis and that the CIWA-Ar scale may be useful as a screening instrument for anxiety disorders in alcoholics is discussed.
Johnston
A L
AL
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.
Thevos
A K
AK
Randall
C L
CL
Anton
R F
RF
D000328:Adult; D000430:Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010552:Personality Assessment