Physical and mental health and social functioning in older alcohol-dependent inpatients: the role of age of onset.
OBJECTIVE
Age of onset is an important criterion to distinguish subgroups of alcohol-dependent patients. This study investigated physical and mental health and social functioning of older inpatients with early (age <25), late (25-44), and very late (≥45) onset of alcohol dependence.


METHODS
In a specialized detoxification ward for older patients in The Hague, the Netherlands, 157 older alcohol-dependent inpatients (38% women, mean age 62.7 ± 6.5) were interviewed with the European version of the Addiction Severity Index.


RESULTS
As a group, older alcohol-dependent patients had substantial physical, mental and social problems, which were largely independent of the age of onset of alcohol dependence. Patients with early-onset alcohol dependence had more chronic medical problems and more suicidal thoughts than patients with late-onset alcohol dependence. The very-late-onset group did not significantly differ from the other two groups in any of the variables under study.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite previous studies showing more favourable outcomes for the (very) late-onset compared to the early-onset alcohol-dependent group, their comorbid (mental) health and social problems are in many respects similar, and require careful assessment and treatment. This may be crucial for successful treatment and improving quality of life in these patients.
Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, The Hague, The Netherlands.
Julia F
JF
van den Berg
Jolanda S J
JS
Hermes
Wim
W
van den Brink
Peter
P
Blanken
Nicolien
N
Kist
Rob M
RM
Kok
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012917:Social Adjustment; D055815:Young Adult