[Disulfiram in outpatient treatment of alcohol dependency]

The alcohol deterrent drug disulfiram plays a minor role in the treatment of alcohol dependency in Germany. The study looks at the efficacy, tolerability and feasibility of a disulfiram outpatient treatment program in a German psychiatric hospital.

Data from 190 outpatients with alcohol dependency, who had participated in a disulfiram therapy program at the psychiatric outpatient department over a period of 10 years, were analyzed with respect to efficacy and tolerability. To test for predictors, independent variables and treatment success as a dependent variable a logistic regression was carried out.

After 1 year 24.2 % of the patients maintained alcohol abstinence while 55 % had had an alcohol relapse despite being in the disulfiram program. No severe complications were observed under disulfiram treatment. Therapy success was largely related to participating in treatment-specific group therapy.

Disulfiram proved to be a well-tolerated medication as part of multimodal therapy of alcohol dependency. The disulfiram program was easily integrated into other health service treatment. Approximately one quarter of patients who had had an unfavorable course before, achieved abstinence, while participation in group therapy was a major predictor of treatment success. Disulfiram is a medication, which in the context of a psychosocial treatment concept, should receive a wider distribution in Germany.