Sonila Bitri Tivari, Esmeralda Thoma, Clinical Toxicologist and Addictionologist Eugjen Sotiri and Entela Puca
American Hospital, Albania
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Neurol Neurophysiol
Background: Alcohol addiction is a chronic and relapsing disease that has affected many patients throughout the world. As alcohol interferes in brain neurotransmitters, it can cause mood and behavior changes. Aim: Through this study we wanted to examine the prevalence of comorbidity between alcohol dependence and psychiatric disorders in patients hospitalized for alcohol detoxification. Method: In our study, we included 92 male patients (mean age 41.4 years old), hospitalized in American Hospital, Tirana, Albania, June 2015-October 2016, with the diagnosis of alcohol use disorders (AUD), DSM-5. The patients with known and treated psychiatric comorbidities were excluded from the study. Any female patient was presented to our service with the diagnosis of AUD was also included. We analyzed the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in these patients. Result: After the psychiatric evaluation, we found comorbidity in 39% of the patients. 51% of patients with comorbidity were unemployed. About 31% of patients with comorbidity referred that they have found alcohol consumption as a â??self-treatmentâ? for their anxiety. Discussion: Alcohol addiction and concomitant psychiatric disorders are found very often between our patients. The psychological evaluation and the appropriate treatment is crucial leading to a better health outcome, a lower risk of alcohol relapse and happier patients.
Sonila Bitri Tivari has completed her studies from the University of Medicine, Albania 2004 and Specialization in Clinical Toxicology and Addiction in 2010. Currently, she works as a Clinical Toxicologist at the American Hospital, Tirana, Albania. Her field of interest is Drug Addiction (opioid, alcohol, etc.) and has given several trainings in this field. She has taken part in several international conferences in this field like: Global Addiction Congress, UNDP.
Email: sonila_bitri@yahoo.com
