Search resultsAlcohol and substance use in multiple sclerosis
Title
Alcohol and substance use in multiple sclerosis
Publication type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2014
Authors
Journal
Journal of the Neurological Sciences
Volume
338
Issue
1-2
Pagination
122 - 127
Date published
2014
ISBN
0022510X (ISSN)
Keywords
Adult, alcohol abuse, alcohol consumption, Alcohol use, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Consumption, Alcoholism, anxiety, article, Beck Depression Inventory, CAGE Adapted to Include Drug, Depression, disability, disease severity, Drug abuse, Female, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, human, Humans, major clinical study, male, Middle Aged, multiple sclerosis, named inventories, questionnaires and rating scales, National Household Survey Drug Abuse Question, Patient Health Questionnaire 9 item, Personality Inventory, prevalence, priority journal, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, questionnaire, Questionnaires, Risk Factors, sex difference, substance abuse, Substance-Related Disorders
Abstract
Background Few studies have examined the prevalence of alcohol and drug use in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). The current study sought to examine the prevalence and associated demographic, disease-related, and psychological correlates of substance use in an East Coast United States outpatient MS sample. Methods 157 individuals with MS completed questionnaires prior to, during or after their visit with an MS neurologist. These questionnaires included: the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - Consumption (AUDIT-C), CAGE, CAGE - Adapted to Include Drugs (CAGE-AID), Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 item (PHQ-9), Beck Depression Inventory - Second Edition (BDI-II) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - Anxiety (HADS-A). Results On the AUDIT-C, 40% of individuals with MS met or exceeded the cutoff for excessive alcohol use. They were more highly educated and younger than non-drinkers. Utilizing the CAGE, 6% of the sample met criteria for a lifetime history of excessive alcohol use and men endorsed higher rates of alcohol use than women. Only a small portion of the sample endorsed a history of drug use (CAGE-AID, 4%). Drug use was associated with greater disability and depression symptoms, but lower self-reported anxiety. Conclusions Current alcohol use was prevalent in this sample, and excessive use was associated with men, younger age, and more education. Reported drug use was minimal and associated with greater disability, more self-reported depression, but fewer anxiety symptoms.