TREATMENT * P71 * PHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENT STRATEGIES IN ALCOHOL DETOXIFICATION AND RELAPSE PREVENTION: RESULTS OF A NATIONAL ONLINE SURVEY

Abstract

Background. Several current articles and guidelines on pharmacological treatment interventions in alcohol dependence permit an evidence-based validation of efficacy. However, decisions on pharmacotherapy during alcohol detoxification are commonly rather based on personal experience. Thus, it could be assumed that treatment strategies differ, depending on the particular institution's preference. To verify this presumption, we initiated a national online-survey among hospital physicians of different speciality concerning individual treatment strategies in alcohol detoxification and relapse prevention.Methods. Using a commercial software by EFS Survey, Unipark, a questionnaire dealing with relevant aspects of pharmacotherapy during detoxification and relapse prevention, was designed and sent online to 1213 physicians of different speciality in German hospitals, involved in execution of alcohol detoxification (according to Deutsches Krankenhaus Verzeichnis).Results. The survey was completed by 11.5 % (n = 140) of recipients. For prevention and therapy of withdrawal symptoms during detoxification of hospitalized patients, most participants (n = 92) prefer a clomethiazole monotherapy, followed by a combination therapy of carbamazepine and clomethiazole (n = 66) and a carbamazepine monotherapy (n = 38). In case a benzodiazepine (BZD) monotherapy was chosen, most participants (n = 91) preferred diazepam. Further data were collected concerning routine administration of adjuvant pharmacological therapy options, treatment strategies for out-patient detoxification and pharmacotherapy for prevention of relapse.Discussion. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first national survey among physicians of different speciality concerning their pharmacological treatment strategies in alcohol detoxification and prevention of relapse. The aim of this survey was to get a general idea of different strategies and to infer possible trends in nationwide comparison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]