Age at Onset of Problem Drinking May be Poor Predictor of Outcomes, Study Finds

People who begin to experience problem drinking after the age of 60 can benefit from treatment and may have better mental functioning than those who develop problem drinking earlier in life, according to astudy published this week inAlcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research.“Age of onset of problem drinking, that is, the age at which a person first experiences problems in relation to their drinking, has long been regarded as an important criterion in distinguishing between types of drinkers and in determining longer-term prognosis,” wrote Jennifer Seddon, Ph.D., M. Sc., of Oxford Brookes University and colleagues.Seddon and colleagues used data from the U.K.-based Drink Wise, Age Well program, which provides resources to people aged 50 and older who experience alcohol problems. Participants were grouped based on the age at which they first experienced problem drinking: early onset (younger than 25 years); mid onset (25 to 39 years), late onset (40 to 59 years), and very late onset (older than 60 years).The authors assessed participants ’ alcohol use using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT); a score of 20 or greater indicates high levels of alcohol problems and possible dependence. Further, they assessed participants’ mental health status with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, the Patient Health Questionnai re-9, and the 14-item Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale. Cognitive impairment was assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Fi...
Source: Psychiatr News - Category: Psychiatry Tags: alcohol use disoder cognitive impairment Jennifer Seddon older problem drinkers Oxford Brooks University problem drinking treatment for alcohol use Source Type: research