Barbara Braun

Zusammenfassung. Zielsetzung: Der demographische Wandel lässt eine höhere Anzahl älterer Personen mit Alkoholproblemen erwarten, deren therapeutische Versorgung bislang unzureichend ist. Mit der internationalen, randomisiert-kontrollierten ELDERLY-Studie wurden zwei Varianten einer ambulanten psychotherapeutischen Behandlung für Personen ab 60 Jahren mit einer Alkoholkonsumstörung nach DSM-5 (AS) in drei Ländern erprobt. Methodik: Nach der Baseline-Befragung wurden die zufällig zugeordneten Behandlungsgruppen nach 1, 3, 6 und 12 Monaten erneut untersucht. Erfasst wurden Veränderungen (Zeit und Gruppe) hinsichtlich Trinkmenge, Anzahl abstinenter Tage, Anzahl Tage Rauschtrinken und Tage risikoarmen Konsums sowie Anzahl zutreffender DSM-5-Kriterien für AS. Complete-Case- und Intention-to-treat-Analysen werden für die deutsche Teilstichprobe vorgestellt (n=203). Ergebnisse: Für beide Behandlungsgruppen ergaben sich stabil bis zu 12 Monate nach Baseline ein Anstieg der Abstinenzrate (18 %; t0: 4 %), des Anteils der Personen ohne einen Tag mit riskantem Konsum (45 %, t0: 4 %) sowie ohne Rauschtrinken (68 %, t0: 15 %). Auch zeigte sich eine Verringerung der Trinkmenge (Median bei 27 g Reinalkohol pro Trinktag; t0: 58 g) und Anzahl erfüllter AS-Kriterien (Median bei 2; t0: 5). Schlussfolgerungen: Die Verbesserungen des Trinkverhaltens und der AS-Symptome waren trotz relativ kurzer Behandlungsdauer stabil. Motivierende Interventionen, insbesondere die persönliche Rückmeldung zum Trinkverhalten, bewirken auch bei älteren Personen mit alkoholbezogenen Störungen Verhaltensänderungen. Ein therapeutischer Nihilismus ist unangebracht; vielmehr sollten spezifische Bedürfnisse der Zielgruppe beachtet und in passenden Versorgungsangeboten umgesetzt werden.

In western countries demographic changes are leading to an ageing society. Consequently, the number of older adults with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) will rise and the demand of treatment is likely to increase. However, thus far not many older adults with an AUD are seeking treatment and little is known about the efficacy of treatment for older adults. The present study aimed at determining the proportion of older adults with an AUD in addiction treatment, particular characteristics and treatment outcomes of this clientele. Using data of 10,860 patients with an AUD aged 60 and over that are documented within the national German addiction care system we conducted exploratory analyses with regard to prevalence, sociodemographic, disorder- and treatment-related variables. Overall, we found a low proportion of older patients in treatment due to AUDs, but highly positive treatment outcomes. With regard to sociodemographic and disorder-related characteristics, older females and late-onset patients in particular constitute a unique clientele. The low service utilisation on the one hand but good treatment prognosis on the other emphasise the need to promote treatment seeking among older adults with AUDs. In this context, the special characteristics we found among older patients may contribute to better reach this population and to improve provisions of targeted treatment approaches.

The proportion of 60+ years with excessive alcohol intake varies in western countries between 6–16 % among men and 2–7 % among women. Specific events related to aging (e.g. loss of job, physical and mental capacity, or spouse) may contribute to onset or continuation of alcohol use disorders (AUD). We present the rationale and design of a multisite, multinational AUD treatment study for subjects aged 60+ years. 1,000 subjects seeking treatment for AUD according to DSM-5 in outpatient clinics in Denmark, Germany, and New Mexico (USA) are invited to participate in a RCT. Participants are randomly assigned to four sessions of Motivational Enhancement Treatment (MET) or to MET plus an add-on with eight sessions based on the Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA), which include a new module targeting specific problems of older adults. A series of assessment instruments is applied, including the Form-90, Alcohol Dependence Scale, Penn Alcohol Craving Scale, Brief Symptom Inventory and WHO Quality of Life. Enrolment will be completed by April 2016 and data collection by April 2017. The primary outcome is the proportion in each group who are abstinent or have a controlled use of alcohol six months after treatment initiation. Controlled use is defined as maximum blood alcohol content not exceeding 0.05 % during the last month. Total abstinence is a secondary outcome, together with quality of life andcompliance with treatment. The study will provide new knowledge about brief treatment of AUD for older subjects. As the treatment is manualized and applied in routine treatment facilities, barriers for implementation in the health care system are relatively low. Finally, as the study is being conducted in three different countries it will also provide significant insight into the possible interaction of service system differences and related patient characteristics in predictionof treatment outcome. Clinical Trials.gov NCT02084173 , March 7, 2014.

As only a minority of pathological gamblers (PGr) presents for treatment, further knowledge about help-seeking behavior is required in order to enhance treatment utilization. The present study investigated factors associated with treatment participation in gamblers in Germany. As subclinical pathological gamblers (SPGr, fulfilling one to four DSM-IV-criteria) are target of early intervention due to high risk of transition to pathological gambling, they were subject of special interest. The study analyzed data from a general population survey (n = 234, SPGr: n = 198, PGr: n = 36) and a treatment study (n = 329, SPGr: n = 22, PGr: n = 307). A two-step weighting procedure was applied to ensure comparability of samples. Investigated factors included socio-demographic variables, gambling behavior, symptoms of pathological gambling and substance use. In PGr, regular employment and non-German nationality were positively associated with being in treatment while gambling on the Internet and gaming machines and fulfilling more DSM-IV-criteria lowered the odds. In SPGr, treatment attendance was negatively associated with married status and alcohol consumption and positively associated with older age, higher stakes, more fulfilled DSM-IV criteria and regular smoking. In accordance to expectations more severe gambling problems and higher problem awareness and/or external pressure might facilitate treatment entry. There are groups with lower chances of being in treatment: women, ethnic minorities, and SPGr. We propose target group specific offers, use of Internet-based methods as possible adaptions and/or extensions of treatment offers that could enhance treatment attendance.

Untersuchung von Personen mit pathologischem Glücksspielen (PG) in ambulanten Suchthilfeeinrichtungen und Analyse der Passung von Klienten-/Störungsmerkmalen und Versorgungssituation. Von April 2009 bis März 2011 wurden in 36 speziell geförderten ambulanten Suchthilfeeinrichtungen in Bayern konsekutiv 461 Klienten mit PG untersucht. Es wurden Daten zu Soziodemografie, psychischer Befindlichkeit (u. a. SCL-90, BDI) und den Maßnahmen erhoben. Die Mehrheit der Klienten war männlich (88,8%) und ca. 36 Jahre alt. Spielen an Geldspielautomaten hatte die höchste Prävalenz und Präferenz (81,4% bzw. 74,7%). Insgesamt hatten 93% der Klienten die Diagnose PG, 50,5% eine hohe psychische Belastung und 47,4% depressive Symptome. Bei 51,8% fanden weniger als 6 Behandlungskontakte statt, 70,2% beendeten vorzeitig. Angesichts der hohen psychosozialen Belastung zeigen die Ergebnisse eine Diskrepanz zwischen objektivem Behandlungsbedarf und Behandlungsmerkmalen, insbesondere bei der Diagnostik sowie der hohen Abbruch- und geringen Weitervermittlungsrate. Möglichkeiten der Weiterentwicklung ambulanter Versorgungsstrukturen werden diskutiert. Examination of pathological gamblers (PG) in outpatient services and analysis of the fit of clientele characteristics and healthcare situa­tion. From April 2009 to March 2011 a total of 461 patients at 36 outpatient addiction care facilities in Bavaria, Germany, was examined consecutively. Data including socio-demographic variables, psychological state (i.a. SCL-90, BDI) and counselling were collected. The majority of patients were male (88.8%) with a mean age of 36 years. Most patients (81.4%) reported gambling on and preferring (74.7%) gaming machines within the past 12 months. A total of 93% fulfilled diagnostic criteria for PG and had a high severity of psychological strain (50.5%) and depressive symptoms (47.4%). About half of the patients (51.8%) had less than 6 treatment contacts, 70.2% terminated prematurely. Given the high psychosocial burden, these results indicate a gap between objective need and actual treatment characteristics, particularly regarding the diagnostic process, premature treatment termination and rare conduit to other services. Possibilities of further development of outpatient health care structures are discussed. ^* Dieser Beitrag ist Teil der Dissertation von Barbara Braun.