The use of a symptom checklist (SCL-90-R) as an easy method to estimate the relapse risk after alcoholism detoxification.
We tested the use of some subscales of the psychiatric symptom checklist SCL-90-R in predicting relapse within a 1-year follow-up period after a combined detoxification- and abstinence-focused day patient psychotherapy program in 20 men and 13 women with alcohol dependence. Scores of the SCL-90-R subscales interpersonal sensitivity (p = 0.008), anxiety (p = 0.022), phobic anxiety (p = 0.019) and Global Severity Index (GSI; p = 0.040) on admission were higher in the subgroup with relapse within the first year after therapy. A decrease in depression (p = 0.004), anxiety (p = 0.006) and GSI (p = 0.006) scores during therapy was associated with a longer abstinence duration (shorter vs. longer than 24 weeks). Therefore we propose to further investigate the capacity of the SCL-90-R to identify subgroups at higher risk for relapse after detoxification and abstinence therapy in patients with alcohol dependence.
Lucht
M
M
Department for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Greifswald, Stralsund, Germany. lucht@mail.uni-greifswald.de
Jahn
U
U
Barnow
S
S
Freyberger
H J
HJ
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012306:Risk; D055502:Secondary Prevention