RESEARCH REPORT

Predictors of the 2-year recurrence and persistence of alcohol dependence

  1. Lynn Boschloo1,*,
  2. Nicole Vogelzangs1,
  3. Wim van den Brink2,
  4. Johannes H. Smit1,
  5. Aartjan T. F. Beekman1,
  6. Brenda W. J. H. Penninx1,3,4

Article first published online: 17 APR 2012

DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.03860.x

Issue

Addiction

Addiction

Volume 107, Issue 9, pages 1639–1640, September 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Boschloo, L., Vogelzangs, N., van den Brink, W., Smit, J. H., Beekman, A. T. F. and Penninx, B. W. J. H. (2012), Predictors of the 2-year recurrence and persistence of alcohol dependence. Addiction, 107: 1639–1640. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.03860.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Psychiatry and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

  2. 2

    Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

  3. 3

    Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands

  4. 4

    Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands

*Lynn Boschloo, Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, AJ Ernststraat 1187, 1081 HL Amsterdam, the Netherlands. E-mail: l.boschloo@ggzingeest.nl

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 2 AUG 2012
  2. Article first published online: 17 APR 2012
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 28 FEB 2012 12:00AM EST
  4. Submitted 16 October 2011; initial review completed 12 December 2011; final version accepted 21 February 2012

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Keywords:

  • Alcohol dependence;
  • course;
  • predictor

ABSTRACT

Aims  To identify independent risk factors of the recurrence of alcohol dependence (AD) in people with a remitted disorder at baseline and persistence of AD in people with a current disorder at baseline.

Design  Prospective cohort study with assessments at baseline and 2-year follow-up.

Setting  Recruitment from the general population, primary care and out-patient mental health-care services.

Participants  People with remitted AD (n = 253) and current AD (n = 135).

Measurements  Recurrence and persistence of AD during 2-year follow-up were established using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) interview based on DSM-IV. Logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the role of potential risk factors (i.e. baseline severity of alcohol problems, measures for depression and anxiety, socio-demographics, vulnerability factors and addiction-related factors) as independent predictors of a negative course.

Findings  Overall recurrence and persistence rates of AD were 14.6 and 40.7%, respectively, and were highly conditional on the severity of alcohol problems [adjusted odds ratio (OR) per standard deviation (SD) increase: OR = 3.64, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.21–6.01 and OR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.32–3.40, respectively). Severity of depressive/anxiety symptoms was an additional independent predictor of the recurrence of AD, whereas male gender and high education were significant independent risk factors of the persistence of AD.

Conclusions   Alcohol dependence has a dynamic course, with only moderate levels of diagnostic stability. Both recurrence and persistence of alcohol dependence are highly dependent on severity of baseline alcohol problems, whereas severity of depressive/anxiety symptoms predicts only the recurrence of alcohol dependence. Both measures may be useful in identifying people at an increased risk of a negative course and who could be targeted by prevention strategies.

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