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Combined fluoxetine and disulfiram treatment of alcoholism with comorbid affective disorders. A naturalistic outcome study, including quality of life measurements

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

C Børup  and
M Undén
C Børup
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Dept, Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen
M Undén
Affiliation:
Sct Hans Hospital, Dept M, Roskilde, DK-4000, Denmark
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Summary

This uncontrolled study presents 188 patients primarily diagnosed as addictive alcoholics and fulfilling the DSM III diagnostic criteria for panic disorder or major depression, 104 and 84 patients, respectively. The study focused on clinical outcome of pharmacological intervention with combined fluoxetine and disulfiram treatment. The patients were followed for (up to) 40 months. A good clinical outcome for both groups was found in 70%. In a subgroup of 37 patients ‘quality of life’ was assessed using quality of life scales. An appropriate correlation emerged between clinical judgement of outcome and the patients’ self-rating. Although the study was limited by being uncontrolled, the results have shown, that specific treatment in a group of alcoholics with comorbid psychopathology within the anxiety and depression spectrum is possible even after many years of addictive alcohol abuse. The necessity for proper psychiatric assessment is stressed.

Keywords

addictive alcoholismpanic disordermajor depressionfluoxetinedisulfiramclinical outcomequality of life
Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 9 , Issue 2 , 1994 , pp. 83 - 89
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 1994

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