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Published on: January 7, 2019
Insomnia, self-medication, and relapse to alcoholism
K J Brower1, M S Aldrich, E A Robinson
1Department of Psychiatry, the Alcohol Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA. kbrower@umich.edu
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|March 7, 2001
Summary
Insomnia is common in alcoholic patients and significantly predicts relapse, even after accounting for other factors. Routine screening for sleep issues in alcohol treatment is recommended.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Sleep Medicine
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Insomnia is a prevalent issue among individuals with alcohol dependence.
- Self-medication of insomnia with alcohol is a common but potentially detrimental coping mechanism.
- Understanding the relationship between insomnia, alcohol use, and relapse is crucial for effective treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of insomnia in alcoholic patients.
- To investigate the self-medication of insomnia with alcohol.
- To examine the association between insomnia and alcoholic relapse.
Main Methods:
- 172 patients undergoing treatment for alcohol dependence completed sleep, alcohol, and depression assessments.
- Polysomnography was conducted after a minimum of 2 weeks of abstinence.
- Logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of relapse.
Main Results:
- 61% of patients reported symptomatic insomnia prior to treatment.
- Insomnia patients exhibited poorer sleep continuity and higher severity of alcohol dependence and depression.
- Insomnia significantly predicted relapse (60% vs. 30% in non-insomnia group), while self-medication did not.
Conclusions:
- Insomnia is highly prevalent in alcoholic patients seeking treatment.
- Insomnia is a significant predictor of relapse in this population.
- Routine assessment of sleep problems in clinical and research settings for alcohol dependence is advised.
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