Anxiety disorders among abstinent alcohol-dependent patients

The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Index (STAI) and screening questions fo r anxiety disorders from the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Disor ders were used to assess 146 alcohol-dependent patients on admission for in patient treatment and just before discharge, after about three to four week s of abstinence. Eighty-four patients (58 percent) reported excessive anxie ty on admission, and 32 patients (22 percent) met DSM-IV criteria for speci fic anxiety disorders. After three to four weeks of abstinence, both state and trait STAI scores declined significantly, and only 15 patients (10 perc ent) met criteria for specific anxiety disorders. Anxiety levels on admissi on were significantly related to severity of alcohol dependence and recent life events but not to severity of withdrawal symptoms.