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Topics Alcohol and Drug Abuse The consumption of cigarettes, coffee and sweets in detoxified alcoholics and its association with relapse and a family history of alcoholism

The consumption of cigarettes, coffee and sweets in detoxified alcoholics and its association with relapse and a family history of alcoholism

Junghanns K, Backhaus J, Tietz U, Lange W, Rink L, Wetterling T, Driessen M. Eur Psychiatry. 2005 Aug;20(5-6):451-5.

Thirty male alcohol dependent inpatients without concurrent depressive disorder, 13 of them with a positive family history of alcohol dependence in a first degree relative (PFH), were questioned about their desire and consumption habits with respect to cigarettes, coffee, and sweets while on a three-week inpatient treatment after detoxification from alcohol.

Six weeks after discharge from hospital, the patients were reassessed for relapse.

Eleven patients (36.6%) had relapsed at follow-up. Relapsers were younger than abstainers.

The days until relapse correlated negatively with intensity of desire to drink alcohol, desire to smoke cigarettes, and with a higher consumption of cigarettes.

PFH patients did not relapse earlier but they had a stronger desire to drink coffee and eat sweets and had a higher coffee consumption.