RESUMO
AIMS: To identify factors associated with retention in treatment of alcohol-dependent individuals and to compare treatment retention between men and women. METHODS: Analysis of the treatment attendance records and baseline characteristics of 833 men and 218 women who undertook to attend follow-up treatment in an alcoholism treatment centre. RESULTS: Retention after 4 weeks of treatment is more likely to occur among those using adjuvant medication (the most frequent of which was disulfiram), those presenting severe alcoholism and those who are older and tend to be frequent drinkers. There was no gender difference regarding treatment retention. CONCLUSION: Such results suggest possibilities for developing specific strategies to reduce the risk of early dropout from treatment.
Assuntos
Dissuasores de Álcool/uso terapêutico , Alcoolismo/tratamento farmacológico , Alcoolismo/reabilitação , Dissulfiram/uso terapêutico , Naltrexona/uso terapêutico , Síndrome de Abstinência a Substâncias/tratamento farmacológico , Taurina/análogos & derivados , Acamprosato , Fatores Etários , Assistência Ambulatorial , Estudos Transversais , Progressão da Doença , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pacientes Desistentes do Tratamento , Retenção Psicológica , Estudos Retrospectivos , Síndrome de Abstinência a Substâncias/prevenção & controle , Taurina/uso terapêutico , Temperança , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
Alcoholism is a complex syndrome involving social, psychological and individual factors in addition to a series of obstacles regarding treatment entry, adherence, and drop-out. These obstacles contribute negatively to both clinical evolution and prognosis of the patients, affecting their quality of life and raising the social costs. This is a bibliographical study in which we address this theme as well as other experiences observed in our daily practice in the Alcohol and Drug Research Unit (UNIAD) based at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP). The analysis of the obstacles related to treatment entry, attendance, and drop-out among alcoholic patients shows that systemic, social, cultural, and individual factors are all involved, including the structural ones. Women have more obstacles compared to men, and what is thought to be a barrier to one patient may be a factor motivating another patient to search for help. We conclude that several factors at different levels exist that prevent the patient from overcoming these treatment obstacles.