Personality traits and psychiatric comorbidities in alcohol dependence

Abstract

Non-adaptive personality traits may constitute risk factors for development of psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety. We aim to evaluate associations and the predictive value of personality traits among alcohol-dependent individuals, with or without psychiatric comorbidities. The convenience sample comprised two groups of males over 18 years of age: one with subjects who had an alcohol dependence diagnosis (AG, n=110), and a control group without abuse and/or alcohol dependence diagnosis (CG, n=110). The groups were assessed by means of the Structured Clinical Interview DSM-IV (SCID-IV). AG participants were recruited among outpatients from the university hospital, whereas CG participants were recruited from a primary healthcare program. Data collection was done individually with self-assessment instruments. Parametric statistics were performed, and a significance level of P=0.05 was adopted. A positive correlation was observed between openness and the length of time that alcohol has been consumed, as were significant and negative correlations between conscientiousness and both the length of time alcohol has been consumed and the number of doses. For alcoholics, extraversion emerged as a protective factor against depression development (P=0.008) and tobacco abuse (P=0.007), whereas openness worked as a protective factor against anxiety (P=0.02). The findings point to specific deficits presented by alcoholics in relation to personality traits with or without psychiatric comorbidities and to the understanding that therapeutic approaches should favor procedures and/or preventive measures that allow more refined awareness about the disorder.

Comorbid Psychiatric Disorders in Alcohol Dependence: A Control Study

“…Physical adverse effects include hepatic cirrhosis, neoplasia, gastritis, esophageal varices, pancreatitis, and diabetes mellitus, among others. Psychiatric effects include elevated rates of mood and/or anxiety disorder co morbidities, which is associated with difficulty in adhering to treatment and worse prognoses [1][2][3]. Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are responsible for 5 million deaths per year [4].…”

Role of cortical alpha-2 adrenoceptors in alcohol withdrawal-induced depression and tricyclic antidepressants

“…Conversely, alcohol preferring (AA) rats may exhibit depressive-like characteristics following voluntary alcohol intake compared to alcohol non-preferring (ANA) rats (Viglinskaya et al 1995). Although various theories have attempted to explain the association between AUD and depression, it appears that a number of factors, including genetic predisposition and alterations in neurochemical substrates, such as the noradrenergic system, may contribute to this co-morbidity (Balsamo et al, 2016; Bravo et al, 2017; Donadon and Osorio, 2016; Getachew et al, 2010; Jung et al, 2016; Kalejaye et al, 2013; Merikangas and Gelernter, 1990; Ovestreet et al, 2005; Rezvani et al, 2002, 2007; Rincon-Hoyos, et al, 2016). …”

Psychiatric Comorbidities in Patients with Alcohol Dependence Syndrome in a Tertiary Care Center: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…[1] Studies have shown that out of two billion alcohol users worldwide 76.3 million (7.63%) have at least one additional disorder caused by their habit. [2,3,4] Alcohol use disorders can also mimic or potentiate most other psychopathological symptoms. [5] There has been an increase in the incidence of dual diagnosis in recent years.…”