Addiction severity and comorbidity among women with alcohol use disorders: A hospital-based study from India

To examine the addiction severity, comorbid psychiatric disorder and their temporal relationship among women seeking treatment for Alcohol Use Disorders (AUDs).

The sample comprised of 35 women with AUDs, with or without psychiatric disorders, recruited from the outpatient and inpatient settings of a tertiary-care hospital. Their mean age was 38.51 years (S.D=7.42). Patients were assessed using Clinical Data Sheet (CDS), Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Personality disorders (SCIDII), Addiction Severity Index (ASI)-Alcohol subscale and Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND).

Findings of the study indicated that on average patients initiated alcohol use in their early twenties and developed dependence by the age of 29.66 years (S.D=7.60). The average duration of alcohol dependence was less than a decade before seeking treatment. The mean composite score on ASI was 0.71 (S.D=0.18) and on FTND was 5.16 (S.D=2.59), indicating a high level of alcohol and moderate level of nicotine dependence respectively. On MINI, 57.14% of the patients met the criteria for co-occurring Axis I psychiatric disorders such as major depression disorder and dysthymia. In the majority of the cases, comorbid Axis I disorders were secondary to AUDs. On SCID-II, 17% met the criteria for borderline personality disorder.

Examining and understanding the substance use and clinical profile of patients with AUDs are crucial for planning intensity, settings and focus of treatment for women with AUDs.