PREDICTORS OF RELAPSE TO HEAVY DRINKING IN ALCOHOL-DEPENDENT SUBJECTSFOLLOWING ALCOHOL DETOXIFICATION - THE ROLE OF QUALITY-OF-LIFE MEASURES, ETHNICITY, SOCIAL-CLASS, CIGARETTE AND DRUG-USE

Sixty DSM-IV alcohol dependent adults (39 males, 21 females) admitted 20 a voluntary sector alcohol detoxification unit in South London were studied. Socio-demographic data and information on level of alcohol d ependence, quality of life, family history, cigarette smoking and the use of prescription/illicit drugs were collected. The subjects were fo llowed-up at 12 weeks and subdivided into two groups, relapse and non- relapse. A relapse was defined as drinking 21 units or more per week f or males and 14 units or more per week for females. Data were analysed for baseline and 12-week follow-up comparisons. At ii weeks, 58 (97%) subjects (38 males, 20 females) were successfully followed-up and 36/ 58 (62%) had relapsed After controlling for a Type I error there were significant differences between the relapse and non-relapse subgroups at 12-week follow-up on the following outcome measures; depression, li fe situation. withdrawal symptoms, energy, emotional reactions and soc ial isolation. There were no significant differences at baseline betwe en the relapse and non-relapse subgroups for most of the socio-demogra phic variables, but Irish nationality and membership of lower social c lasses (IV and V) were associated with relapse. Major predictors of re lapse at baseline after a forward stepwise logistic regression were (i n order of increasing statistical significance) Irish nationality, low er social class, greater number of cigarettes smoked and disturbed sle ep. The findings are discussed with reference to their consistency wit h existing research and potential clinical implications.