Introduction
Alcohol abuse is a public health issue, given that it is the most common cause of substance abuse disorder. According to Arya et al. (2017), it is associated with at least 200 diseases; in 2013, it was linked to 6% of deaths globally. Related findings have also been recorded by Caneva et al. (2020), who state that excessive consumption of liquor is attributed to 5.1% of the global disease burden and 5.9% of all mortalities. There are other negative implications for adult users’ social and economic outcomes as their dependence level gradually grows. Challenges caused by addiction significantly lower the person’s quality of life (QoL), which is measured through the level of satisfaction and wellbeing of an individual. There are three primaries focusses of health that are of interest to health professionals, including the clinical condition, addiction to specific issues, and general function of the patient (Arya et al., 2017). This paper aims to provide a book report on the disease of alcoholism based on Čuček Trifkovič et al. (2020) research paper, followed by a comparison and contrast with three other scientific studies.
Summary of the Paper
In recent years, QoL has received significant attention as it enhances a person’s wellness and fulfillment in life. The feeling of satisfaction is subjective since an individual makes the decision based on factors such as work, health, and relationships. Alcohol disease is one of the most significant causes of low QoL as it has detrimental implications on almost all facets of a person’s life. Specifically, addiction causes psychological consequences, making the adult susceptible to other mental and physical disorders and destroying relationships with significant others.
The epidemiology of alcohol disease varies based on country of residence, age and period of use, underlying disorder, family history, and sex. For instance, Čuček Trifkovič et al. (2020) notes that the prevalence of alcohol abuse is higher in adult men compared to women. Older adults tend to have greater alcohol consumption and are more susceptible to the consequences because their bodies cannot withstand similar amounts of beer that younger people can cope with within a specific period. The burden of this disease is higher in European countries. In Slovenia, alcohol addiction is responsible for absenteeism, amounting to 3.64 million loss yearly (Čuček Trifkovič, 2020). This trend is bound to increase if measures are not taken to prevent alcohol addiction.
The objective of the paper was to determine the “difference in the perception of the quality of life between alcohol-dependent and nonalcohol dependent individuals” (Čuček Trifkovič et al., 2020, p. 206). There were 502 participants aged 20 and 64 years comprising “72.3 % men and 27.7 % women” (Čuček Trifkovič et al., 2020, p.207). A mixed-method approach was used in which data was collected both qualitatively and quantitatively. The main instruments for gathering information were the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q) and focus group interviews.
Factors for quality of life included physical health, subjective feelings, leisure time activities, work, and social relations. These facets were measured against different variables, including age, gender, and education. The researchers examined the sample at three stages, namely before, during, and after the treatment. At each of the stages, alcohol-addicted individuals had different needs and want. The QoL scores increased as the people received interventions such that during management, the average rating was 5.3, and after healing, 9.4 out of a possible 10 (Čuček Trifkovič, 2020). Findings also indicated a statistically significant (p = 0.008) of subjective feelings between dependent people and sober ones (Čuček Trifkovič, 2020). There was also a significant difference (p = 0.001) with regard to leisure (Čuček Trifkovič, 2020). The non-dependent adults had, on average, a higher satisfaction, wellbeing, and leisure.
This scientific finding implies that alcohol disease makes people live in displeasure. Alcohol addiction is a chronic mental disorder that progresses over years of abuse. Most people who consume liquor in large amounts never realize that they have a problem. In this study, the addicts did not include health and freedom from substance dependence as crucial in determining the quality of life. This perception changed after treatment as the participants realized that having good physical and psychological wellness was critical in having a fulfilled life. Healthcare professionals need to use the biopsychosocial perspective in assessing the QoL for patients with liquor dependence. It is also important to understand that in most cases, such clients will undermine the level of their alcohol use.
Comparison of Scientific Understanding of AUD
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) reduces the quality of life by severely impairing the mental health of a person. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) has several measurement scales used to determine the severity of liquor disease among adults. Čuček Trifkovič (2020) states that the severity of the psychiatric disorder is associated with low quality of life. Similarly, Caneva et al. (2020) established that more than 31.7% of individuals suffering from AUD had cognitive impairment when measured using the global score scale. The study also revealed that about 70.7% of the alcohol users had at least one impairment in the Neuropsychological Examination 2 test (Caneva et al., 2020). In their research study, Arya et al. (2017) also found that 32% of the population with AUD suffer from psychiatric conditions; mostly, anxiety disorder and depression.
These findings are a clear indication that addiction to liquor results in mental health challenges, which may express through psychiatric issues such as hallucinations and illusions. In severe cases, the person loses their orientation and may not be able to function correctly in society. For example, the person may no longer be competent in their work duties leading to job losses. The ability to plan is also impaired, which can make the individual bankrupt and homeless. Mental health conditions can also have somatic symptoms such as body pains and headaches, especially during withdrawal; thus, compromising the level of wellness and satisfaction with life.
Physical health is a significant facet that alcohol disease interferes with. Čuček Trifkovič (2020) found that women with AUD recorded very low QoL on their physical health (p = 0.001). These findings are consistent with that of Arya et al. (2017), which shows that people with liquor disease complain of low satisfaction with the body (42.12 vs. 57.78, P = 0.001). Both studies also indicated that when treatment commenced, the physical state worsened due to withdrawal symptoms such as pain, shivering, among others. Also, the addicts have little regard for self-care practices such as eating a balanced diet and maintaining hygiene.
Social and relationship issues are also common among people who excessively use liquor. The addict may start stealing from people so that they can satisfy their urges. The result is that family members and friends may start distancing from the AUD person. Yet, according to Čuček Trifkovič (2020), alcoholics tend to rely on close members such that when the relationship ties are not there, the QoL is reduced, they experience negative implications. The connections for these patients, according to Paille and Aubin (2016), can be rated based on daily activities and engagement in risky situations. When an individual is no longer able to spend time with significant others (such as family members) and is constantly endangering their lives and that of others, they become aversive to the community. As a result, the people who abuse beer are isolated from those who are sober, causing reduced QoL. Notably, humans are created with a desire for acceptance and belongingness; hence when rejected; it generates negative moves and dissatisfaction with life
Contrasting Scientific Understanding on AUD
Although more studies identify alcoholism as a disease that affects mental, physical, and social health, a few findings are showing some benefits of its consumption. This creates incongruences, which can only be resolved through further studies to establish the efficacy of each statement. In the main study, Čuček Trifkovič et al. (2020) found that the “alcohol dependence group was the lowest for the physical health factor and the highest for work satisfaction” (p. 207). The findings seem to disaffirm because the wellbeing of the body determines the capabilities of an individual to perform a task. People who are sick may be sluggish in other activities that require energy and thinking.
Health-related quality of life is important for people with alcohol addiction. Often, dependence on liquor makes a person prone to accidents due to staggering and getting other bodily infections. There are contradictions on whether the moderate consumption of alcohol can offer protection against other diseases. In their research study, Østby et al. (2016) found that people who abstained from the consumption of liquor reported fewer sick leaves than moderate drinkers. The results, however, have time limitations as the sample was only measured within 14 days. This is evident from opposing findings of Caneva et al. (2020), whose research revealed that “abstainers at admission performed better in Prose memory” and other activities (p. 1710). The mental health of people who do not take alcohol is better compared to those who take some liquor. Beer is an addictive substance such that a person feels the need to consume more as the body becomes tolerant of low doses. As the volume of liquor consumed per day increases the QoL also diminishes.
Some scientific findings record that detoxification improves the physical and mental health of addicts. For instance, upon completion of acute detoxification, 93% of participants were clinically impaired (Caneva et al., 2020). A different study showed that the addicts who were undergoing treatment gauged their quality of life to be 5.3 out of 10 (Čuček Trifkovič et al., 2020). Afterwards, they recognized that freedom from alcohol was one of the essential goals in enhancing the quality of life. The role of detoxification in healing persons with alcohol disease and its impact on the standard of life is, therefore, not apparent.
Conclusion
One of the most prevalent causes of comorbid disorders and death globally is AUD. Alcohol addicts tend to have a low quality of life both before and during treatment. In the primary source for the book report, the authors have revealed how liquor affects wellness and satisfaction with life at different stages of treatment. There is consensus in scientific research that AUD patients are likely to have cognitive disorders and bodily diseases, especially when their consumption increases. In other aspects of this alcohol disease, scholarly evidence has revealed contradicting results. One of the areas of contradictions is whether the moderate consumption of liquor has some health benefits. There are also incongruences on detoxification and its role in QoL. Therefore, more studies should be conducted with a larger sample to determine the efficacy of such information.
References
Arya, S., Singh, P., & Gupta, R. (2017). Psychiatric comorbidity and quality of life in patients with alcohol dependence syndrome. Indian Journal of Social Psychiatry, 33(4), 336-34. Web.
Caneva, S., Ottonello, M., Torselli, E., Pistarini, C., Spigno, P., & Fiabane, E. (2020). Cognitive impairments in early-detoxified alcohol-dependent inpatients and their associations with sociodemographic, clinical and psychological factors: An exploratory study. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 16, 1705-1716. Web.
Čuček Trifkovič, K., Kores Plesničar, B., Kobolt, A., Denny, M., Denieffe, S. & Cilar, L. (2020). Quality of life of alcohol-dependent adults: a mixed-methods study. Slovenian Nursing Review, 54(3), 204-213. Web.
Østby, K. M., Czajkowski, N., Knudsen, G. P., Ystrøm, E., Gjerde, L. C., Kendler, K. S., Ørstavik, R.,E., & Reichborn-Kjennerud, T. (2016). Does low alcohol use increase the risk of sickness absence? A discordant twin study. BMC Public Health, 16. Web.