title: Indicators for elevated risk factors for alcohol-withdrawal seizures: an analysis using a random forest algorithm.
abstract: Alcohol-withdrawal seizures (AWS) are an important and relevant complication during detoxification in alcohol-dependent patients. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the individual risk for AWS. We apply a random forest algorithm to assess possible predictive markers in a large sample of 200 alcohol-dependent patients undergoing alcohol withdrawal. This analysis showed that the combination of homocysteine, prolactin, blood alcohol concentration on admission, number of preceding withdrawals, age and the number of cigarettes smoked may successfully predict AWS. In conclusion, the results of this analysis allow for origination of further research, which should include additional biological and psychosocial parameters as well as consumption behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Center for Addiction Research-CARe, Department for Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany. hillemacher.thomas@mh-hannover.de
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hillemacher
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Frieling
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilhelm
authors.forename: Annemarie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heberlein
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karagülle
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bleich
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lenz
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kornhuber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020270:Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000465:Algorithms; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D006710:Homocysteine; D000431:Ethanol; D011388:Prolactin