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Early treatment of women with alcohol addiction (EWA): a comprehensive evaluation and outcome study. I. Patterns of psychiatric comorbidity at intake
Author(s) -
HAVER BRIT,
DAHLGREN LENA
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0965-2140
DOI - 10.1046/j.1360-0443.1995.90110113.x
Subject(s) - psychiatric comorbidity , comorbidity , psychiatry , personality disorders , mood , mood disorders , anxiety , alcohol dependence , addiction , affect (linguistics) , alcohol use disorder , alcohol addiction , gambling disorder , psychology , medicine , alcohol , personality , clinical psychology , social psychology , biochemistry , chemistry , communication
This paper deals with psychiatric comorbidity among 60 women problem drinkers treated in a specialized women‐only treatment programme (EWA) at Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. The programme attracts women who have not been previously treated for alcohol problems. The methods used were structured interviews (SCID‐I and SCID‐II) applied at least 10 days after the start of treatment. All but two of the women had a definite alcohol dependence according to the DSM‐III‐R, and a majority (60%) also fulfilled the criteria for at least one psychiatric disorder during their lifetime. However, only 23% had a personality disorder (PD), and all subjects with a PD also had at least one Axis I disorder. The most common disorders were mood disorders (48%) and anxiety disorders (38%). However, alcohol dependence developed without definite pre‐existing psychiatric disorders among a substantial proportion of the women (40%). It remains to be seen whether and how psychiatric disturbances among female problem drinkers affect treatment compliance and long‐term outcome.