Drinking behavior and motivation for treatment among alcohol-dependent liver transplant candidates

Alcohol misuse is the second most common indication for liver transplantati on in the United States. Our post-transplant alcoholism treatment trial sug gested that current interventions might not he transferable to liver transp lantees. We sought to identify differences between patients awaiting liver transplantation and alcoholics entering treatment without severe liver dise ase. Thirty transplant patients were compared to thirty naltrexone study pa tients on medical status, alcohol and drug use, alcohol craving, motivation for treatment, psychiatric symptoms, anti psychosocial problems. Lifetime alcohol consumption was greater for transplant patients compared to naltrex one patients. In contrast to the naltrexone group, transplant patients deni ed craving for alcohol and showed little motivation for alcoholism treatmen t. Groups did not differ on other psychosocial measures. Liver transplant p atients differ from patients in alcoholism treatment trials on measures of alcohol consumption, alcohol craving and motivation for treatment. Alcoholi sm interventions should accommodate their medical condition and boost motiv ation for continued abstinence. (C) 2001 by The Haworth Press Inc. All righ ts reserved.