Alcohol Dependence Syndrome: One year outcome study.

The major challenge in the treatment of patients with substance use disorders is not only to maintain the follow up but also to prevent relapse. The current study was planned to see the abstinence and relapse rate in patients with Alcohol Dependence Syndrome over a period of one year. A total of 49 patients of alcohol dependence syndrome fulfilling ICD-10 criteria were included in the study. The mean age was 43 years, majority were above 30 years, males (97.9%), employed (81.6%), and from urban (81.6%) background. the mean duration of dependence was 4.3 years, 12.2% had a family history of dependence, 20.4% had a co-morbid affective disorder and 4.0% had a co-morbid non-affective disorder. In total 71.4% received pharmacologist treatment for relapse prevention. At 6 months, abstinence rates were 100% (n = 10/ 10) for disulfiram, 60% (n=6/10) for anticraving agents (Naltrexone and Acamprosate), 30% (n=3/10) for SSRI group. At 12 months, abstinence rates were 66.67% (n=2/3) for disulfiram, 42.9% (n=3/7) for anticraving agents, 0% (n=2) for SSRI group.