Quality of life in patients with alcohol use disorders admitted to de-addiction centers using WHOQOL-BREF scale - A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) adversely affect a person's general health and the lives of their family and friends. These disorders are also the most undertreated mental illness with severe implications for public health. Hence, the present study aimed to employ the WHOQOL-BREF to assess the quality of life (QoL) of AUDs patients seeking treatment at de-addiction centers and identify the demographic variables associated with the QoL dimension scores. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among alcohol dependents taking treatment in de-addiction centers in Dakshina Kannada District, Karnataka. The WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was administered to 124 subjects. Multiple regression analysis was carried out to identify the demographic variables associated with the QoL dimension scores. RESULTS: The domain mean scores were between 50 and 60 on the 0 to 100 scale. Age, social class, residential area, marital status, and years of drinking were the demographic variables found to be significantly associated with the dimension scores. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians should monitor the effect of alcoholism on QoL, and a multidisciplinary treatment plan with elements from the medical, social, and psychiatric fields should be used. The demographic variables should be considered while managing patients with AUDs.