Clinical characteristics and drinking patterns among treatment-seeking patients with alcohol use disorder in Japan from the ALPS-J nationwide prospective cohort study

While "controlled drinking" as a treatment goal for alcohol use disorder (AUD) has recently become accepted in Japan, knowledge regarding the clinical characteristics and drinking patterns of patients with AUD remains limited. This study aimed to describe the gender-stratified baseline clinical characteristics and drinking patterns of treatment-seeking patients with AUD using baseline data from the Alcohol Longitudinal Prognosis Study in Japan (ALPS-J), a multicenter cohort study conducted at 15 facilities nationwide.

The diagnosis and severity of AUD were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Research Version (SCID-5-RV). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Sleep quality was assessed using the Japanese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-J). Drinking patterns were assessed using an original questionnaire.

A total of 354 participants were analyzed; 83.1% were male, the mean age was 51.9 ± 11.2 years, and 85.0% were inpatients. Overall, 80.8% met the diagnostic criteria for severe AUD. Treatment was started approximately 5 years after the onset of drinking problems. Comorbid depressive symptoms were observed in 44.7% of participants, and 74.3% reported poor sleep quality. The mean daily pure alcohol consumption was 110.4 g. The most commonly consumed type of alcoholic beverage was chu-hai with 9% alcohol by volume, a high-alcohol beverage commonly sold in Japan and often referred to as "strong-style" chu-hai.

Patients with AUD treated in specialized addiction treatment facilities often present with severe and complex clinical profiles, highlighting the need for earlier engagement in care and integrated treatment approaches.