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Decreased alcohol consumption in outpatient drinkers is associated with improved quality of life and fewer alcohol-related consequences

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Abstract

This study’s objective was to determine whether changes in alcohol consumption are associated with changes in quality of life and alcohol-related consequences in an outpatient sample of drinkers. Two hundred thirteen subjects completed the Short Form 36-item (SF-36) Health Survey and the Short Inventory of Problems at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Subjects who sustained a 30% or greater decrease in drinks per month reported improvement in SF-36 Physical Component Summary (P=.058) and Mental Component Summary (P=.037) scores and had fewer alcohol-related consequences (P<.001) when compared to those with a <30% decrease. These findings suggest another benefit of alcohol screening and intervention in the primary care setting.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

    Stephen A. Maisto PhD

  2. the Center for Health Services Research, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pa

    Joseph Conigliaro MD, MPH, Adam J. Gordon MD, MPH & Mary E. Kelley MS

  3. Center for Research on Health Care, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, MUH E820, 200 Lothrop St., 15213, Pittsburgh, PA

    Kevin L. Kraemer MD, MSc, Joseph Conigliaro MD, MPH, Melissa McNeil MD, MPH & Adam J. Gordon MD, MPH

Authors
  1. Kevin L. Kraemer MD, MSc
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  2. Stephen A. Maisto PhD
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  3. Joseph Conigliaro MD, MPH
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  4. Melissa McNeil MD, MPH
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  5. Adam J. Gordon MD, MPH
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  6. Mary E. Kelley MS
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kevin L. Kraemer MD, MSc.

Additional information

This research was supported by grant AA1029 from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Dr. Kraemer is supported by a Mentored Career Development Award from NIAAA (K23 AA00235). Dr. Conigliaro is supported by an Advanced Career Development Award from the Department of Veterans Affairs HSR&D Service (CD-97324-A) and a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Generalist Physician Faculty Scholar Award (no. 031500).

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Kraemer, K.L., Maisto, S.A., Conigliaro, J. et al. Decreased alcohol consumption in outpatient drinkers is associated with improved quality of life and fewer alcohol-related consequences. J GEN INTERN MED 17, 382–386 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-002-0045-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-002-0045-2

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