Previous research has suggested that alcohol dependency may be associated with particular cognitive schemas. The objective of this study was to examine the severity of reported maladaptive schemas, and of anxiety and depression levels of an alcohol dependent group prior to and following a period of abstinence, and in comparison with a non-clinical sample. A total of 100 participants, comprising an alcohol dependent clinical (ADC) group (n = 50) and a non-clinical group (n = 50), were recruited. Data were collected on demographic characteristics, drinking patterns, severity of alcohol dependence, depression, anxiety, and maladaptive schemas. ADC participants reported higher levels of depression and anxiety than did the non-clinical group immediately before a period of abstinence. The groups differed significantly on 6 of 15 schema beliefs. Following a brief (3-week) period of abstinence and participation in a psycho-educational program, the ADC group demonstrated significant improvements in relation to depression, anxiety, and 13 out of 15 maladaptive schema beliefs. Further research is required to understand the association and potential relevance of particular schemas to alcohol dependency.

Impaired control over alcohol consumption can be measured in a reliable and valid fashion by the ICS. The ICS has potential uses in research on impaired control and as a clinical assessment tool.

Aims: To identify variables associated with response to first appointments at a specialist alcohol treatment clinic, and to determine the effect on patients' attendance of a brief telephone prompt prior to the appointment. Design, participants and intervention: Multivariate analysis of patient characteristics from referral letters and aspects of the quality of the referral process was carried out. Consecutive non-repliers (n~100), non-attenders (n~100) and attenders (n~100) were studied. A further 100 patients were matched and allocated to two groups, one of which received a telephone prompt prior to their appointment. Clinic attendance was noted. Findings: Results showed that patients' older age, shorter travelling distance to the clinic, shorter waiting time and administrative delay, faster response by the patient to the appointment invitation, and morning appointments were associated with positive responses. Patients not receiving a telephone prompt were less likely to attend. Conclusions: Reductions in waiting time for first appointment, locally based services and prompting patients by telephone would appear to hold promise as strategies for reducing non-attendance in alcohol dependency. Planning would need to take account of whether services could adequately cope with additional demand. Further research to assess the influence of patients' readiness to change prior to appointments is warranted.

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