Alcohol dependence: analysis of factors associated with retention of patients in outpatient treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To identify factors associated with retention in treatment of alcohol-dependent individuals and to compare treatment retention between men and women.


METHODS
Analysis of the treatment attendance records and baseline characteristics of 833 men and 218 women who undertook to attend follow-up treatment in an alcoholism treatment centre.


RESULTS
Retention after 4 weeks of treatment is more likely to occur among those using adjuvant medication (the most frequent of which was disulfiram), those presenting severe alcoholism and those who are older and tend to be frequent drinkers. There was no gender difference regarding treatment retention.


CONCLUSIONS
Such results suggest possibilities for developing specific strategies to reduce the risk of early dropout from treatment.
Alcohol and Drugs Research Unit (UNIAD), Rua Botucatu 394-Vila Clementino-CEP 04023-061, São Paulo-SP, Brazil. mcfonsi@uol.com.br
Márcia
M
Fonsi Elbreder
Rebeca
R
de Souza e Silva
Sandra Cristina
SC
Pillon
Ronaldo
R
Laranjeira
D000077443:Acamprosate; D000367:Age Factors; D000427:Alcohol Deterrents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D004221:Disulfiram / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013654:Taurine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013695:Temperance; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000427:Alcohol Deterrents; D013654:Taurine; D009271:Naltrexone; D000077443:Acamprosate; D004221:Disulfiram