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Pharmacopsychiatry 2016; 49(05): 199-203
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-104508
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Assessment of Pharmacological Treatment Quality: Comparison of Symptom-triggered vs. Fixed-schedule Alcohol Withdrawal in Clinical Practice

U. J. Müller   *
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
,
F. Schuermann   *
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
,
H. Dobrowolny
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
,
T. Frodl
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
,
B. Bogerts
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
2   Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany
,
S. Mohr
3   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at Langenhangen, Hospitals of Hannover Region, Hannover, Germany
,
J. Steiner
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
2   Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 23 December 2015
revised 25 February 2016

accepted 29 February 2016

Publication Date:
21 April 2016 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction: Despite the fact, that symptom-triggered alcohol withdrawal treatment is recommended by German guidelines on alcoholism, many hospitals continue to use fixed-schedule protocols, as they have been successfully applied for many years.

Methods: This retrospective study compared all patients’ records of alcohol withdrawal treatment from October 2010 to November 2011 at Magdeburg’s University Department of Psychiatry (n=120). A symptom-triggered protocol with clomethiazole (AESB, n=46) was used in parallel with the existing fixed-schedule protocol with diazepam (n=74).

Results: The symptom-triggered group showed less need of pharmacological treatment duration (p<0.001) and cumulative dosage of medication compared to the fixed-schedule protocol (p<0.006). No difference was observed regarding the need of clonidine or haloperidol (to treat blood pressure derailment or delirium) and the incidence of epileptic seizures.

Discussion: Based on the shorter treatment duration and a similar rate of complications our department has switched to the symptom-triggered protocol to improve the quality of patient care.

Key words

alcohol withdrawal - detoxification - substance dependence disorders

* These authors contributed equally to this paper


Supporting Information

 

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