Predictive Capacity of Cloninger's temperament and character inventory (TCI-R) in alcohol use disorder outcomes. / Capacidad de predicción del inventario de temperamento y carácter de Cloninger (TCI-R) en la evolución de los trastornos por uso de alcohol.

OBJECTIVE: to investigate the ability to predict the outcome of alcohol use disorders through Cloninger's temperament and character inventory (TCI-R). METHODS: this is a prospective study consisting of 237 outpatients with alcohol use disorders who underwent follow-up treatment for 6 months and whose personality traits were studied using TCI-R. At the end of that period, the scores of each TCI-R trait were analyzed in terms of those who remained in treatment and those who dropped out. RESULTS: The whole group scored highly in novelty seeking (NS) and harm avoidance (HA) and produced low scores in self-directedness (SD), these last traits are considered prominent. The drop-out group scored significantly (p=.004) higher in novelty seeking (NS) than the follow-up group. Also, when the score was higher than the 67 percentile the likelihood of abandoning the treatment was 1.07 times higher. CONCLUSIONS: Cloninger's temperament and character inventory is a good instrument to predict the outcome of treatment of patients with alcohol use disorders and the novelty seeking (NS) dimension is strongly related to therapeutic drop-out.

Objetivo: se pretende investigar la capacidad de predicción del inventario de temperamento y carácter de Cloninger (TCI-R) en la evolución de los trastornos por uso de alcohol. Metodología: Es un estudio longitudinal de 237 pacientes con trastornos por uso de alcohol, en tratamiento ambulatorio y seguimiento durante seis meses, cuya personalidad fue estudiada mediante el inventario TCI-R. Se analizó la puntuación de cada una de las dimensiones del inventario TCI-R en función de su situación (retención o abandono) al final del estudio. Resultados: La muestra presentaba puntuaciones  elevadas en búsqueda de novedad (BN) y evitación del daño (ED) y baja en autodirección (AD), definidas, estas últimas, como prominentes. El grupo que abandonó presentaba una puntuación significativamente (p= .004) más elevada en búsqueda de novedad (BN) que el grupo en seguimiento; además cuando la puntuación era superior al percentil 67 la probabilidad de abandonar era 1,07 veces superior. Conclusiones: El inventario de temperamento y carácter de Cloninger (TCI-R) es un buen instrumento para predecir la evolución de los pacientes con trastorno por uso de alcohol y la dimensión búsqueda de novedad (BN) está fuertemente relacionada con el abandono terapéutico.

Capacidad de predicción del inventario de temperamento y carácter de Cloninger (TCI-R) en la evolución de los trastornos por uso de alcohol / Predictive Capacity of Cloninger’s temperament and character inventory (TCI-R) in alcohol use disorder outcomes

Objetivo: se pretende investigar la capacidad de predicción del inventario de temperamento y carácter de Cloninger (TCI-R) en la evolución de los trastornos por uso de alcohol. Metodología: Es un estudio longitudinal de 237 pacientes con trastornos por uso de alcohol, en tratamiento ambulatorio y seguimiento durante seis meses, cuya personalidad fue estudiada mediante el inventario TCI-R. Se analizó la puntuación de cada una de las dimensiones del inventario TCI-R en función de su situación (retención o abandono) al final del estudio. Resultados: La muestra presentaba puntuaciones elevadas en búsqueda de novedad (BN) y evitación del daño (ED) y baja en autodirección (AD), definidas, estas últimas, como prominentes. El grupo que abandonó presentaba una puntuación significativamente (p= .004) más elevada en búsqueda de novedad (BN) que el grupo en seguimiento; además cuando la puntuación era superior al percentil 67 la probabilidad de abandonar era 1,07 veces superior. Conclusiones: El inventario de temperamento y carácter de Cloninger (TCI-R) es un buen instrumento para predecir la evolución de los pacientes con trastorno por uso de alcohol y la dimensión búsqueda de novedad (BN) está fuertemente relacionada con el abandono terapéutico

Objective: to investigate the ability to predict the outcome of alcohol use disorders through Cloninger’s temperament and character inventory (TCI-R). Methods: this is a prospective study consisting of 237 outpatients with alcohol use disorders who underwent follow-up treatment for 6 months and whose personality traits were studied using TCI-R. At the end of that period, the scores of each TCI-R trait were analyzed in terms of those who remained in treatment and those who dropped out. Results: The whole group scored highly in novelty seeking (NS) and harm avoidance (HA) and produced low scores in self-directedness (SD), these last traits are considered prominent. The drop-out group scored significantly (p=.004) higher in novelty seeking (NS) than the follow-up group. Also, when the score was higher than the 67 percentile the likelihood of abandoning the treatment was 1.07 times higher. Conclusions: Cloninger’s temperament and character inventory is a good instrument to predict the outcome of treatment of patients with alcohol use disorders and the novelty seeking (NS) dimension is strongly related to therapeutic drop-out

[Gender differences in alcoholism]. / Diferencias de género en la enfermedad alcohólica.

Recent epidemiological studies indicate that alcohol consumption in women has increased in the last few years, which suggests that alcoholism in women will also increase in the near future. Moreover, this disease shows differential characteristics in women, and knowledge of these characteristics is important so that treatment can begin as early as possible. The objective of the present study was to explore clinical differences in alcohol use disorders according to patients' gender. It was carried out with a sample of 370 patients, 325 men (87.8%) and 45 women (12.2%), with mean ages of 42.83 and 44.6 years, respectively. The patients were assessed through the Europasi interview and analytical studies with liver enzyme profiles and blood tests. The most notable results were: women began alcohol consumption significantly later than men (19.61 and 16.9 years, respectively; p < 0.008); they were significantly older than men when the consumption pattern became problematic (30.93 and 24.68 years, respectively; p < 0.003); they had been drinking for fewer years (13.26 versus 17.85 years; p < 0.02); and they drank fewer grams of alcohol (117.7 and 133.8 g., respectively; n.s.). Women scored significantly higher than men on the Europasi psychiatric scale (2.91 and 1.97, respectively; p < 0.007) and men had more legal problems than women (1.2 and 1.0, respectively; p < 0.000). In the biological tests the GGT enzyme values were higher in men (137.51) than in women (96.7), but this difference was not significant, and the VCM value was significantly higher for women (98.1) than for men (95.05). Another important finding was that the percentage of women who had sought private professional help was higher than that of men (15% versus 4.6%; p < 0.01).

Disfunciones sexuales en el alcoholismo / Sexual dysfunction in alcoholism

La prevalencia de disfunciones sexuales en el alcoholismo es alta y oscila, según distintos estudios, entre el 3,2 por ciento y el 64,4 por ciento. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo investigar la frecuencia de este tipo de alteraciones en una muestra de pacientes alcohólicos que estaban en tratamiento por esta enfermedad. Así mismo, se pretende averiguar los factores que pueden influir en su génesis, además del alcohol. La muestra de estudio comprendía 183 personas, 150 varones y 33 mujeres cuya edad media era de 43 años. Se administró a los pacientes una encuesta autoaplicada y anónima que contenía el Cuestionario de Funcionamiento Sexual de LoPiccolo (SHF). Así mismo se determinaron los niveles de testosterona, estradiol y prolactina. Los resultados principales fueron: el funcionamiento sexual global era aceptable (puntuación global: 0,415 ñ 0,155) y significativamente mejor en los varones que en las mujeres; el 45 por ciento mantenía relaciones semanalmente, el 69 por ciento experimentaba deseo sexual durante la semana, el 81 por ciento de los varones no tenía problemas en alcanzar y mantener la erección y el 10 por ciento refería eyaculación precoz; en el grupo de mujeres, el 10 por ciento refería vaginismo y el 5 por ciento dolor en el coito. Los niveles de testosterona, estradiol y prolactina estaban en el rango normal; ni el diagnóstico, ni la cantidad de gramos de alcohol consumido, ni la situación de abstinencia o consumo influía en el funcionamiento sexual global. La presencia de enfermedades somáticas y la ingestión de medicamentos, principalmente Cianamida cálcica, empeoraban significativamente el funcionamiento sexual global (AU)

The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in alcoholism very frequent and fluctuates between 3.2% and 64.4 %, according different studies. The aim of this research is to study sexual dysfunction frequency in a sample of alcoholic patients who were undergoing treatment for this illness. We also analyse the factors, in addition to alcohol, that could influence these disorders. The study consists of an anonymous, selfadministered questionnaire on sexual behaviour, designed by LoPiccolo (SHF), with a sample of 183 individuals, 150 men and 33 women with an average age of 43 years. Levels of testosterone, estradiol and prolactin were also measured. The main results were as follows: overall sexual functioning was acceptable (overall score: 0.415 ± 0.155), and was significantly better in men than in women; 45% had sexual relations weekly, 69% experienced sexual desire during the week, 81% of men had no problems in reaching and maintaining an erection, 10% referred to premature ejaculation. In the group of women, 10% suffered from vaginismus and 5% from pain during coitus. Levels of testosterone, estradiol and prolactin were within the standard range. Neither the diagnosis, the amount of alcohol consumed nor abstinence or consumption of alcohol influenced overall sexual behaviour. The presence of somatic diseases and the intake of medicaments, particularly calcium cyanamide, significantly diminish general sexual performance (AU)