Exploring and Comparing Anxiety Levels on Patients Admitted Twice to a DetoxUnit with a Primary Diagnosis of Alcohol Dependence and Withdrawal: A PilotStudy

Abstract

Objective: Severe alcohol usage is detrimental to one’s health and has led to numerous deaths in the United States. It has been clearly established in studies that individuals have utilized alcohol to self-medicate in an attempt to minimize their anxiety, stress, emotional instability and depression in their lives. The objective of this study was to explore anxiety levels and compare the patient’s anxiety upon two admissions and two discharges, to observe any triggers that may have contributed to a relapse of alcoholism among patients with a primary diagnosis of alcohol dependence and withdrawal. Methods: A retrospective chart review of 20 randomly selected charts was audited from September 2014 to August 1, 2016 from a small, private detox unit in Texas. Charts were reviewed for the following data: age, gender, number of admissions, discharges, their primary, secondary diagnosis, and their Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol Scale, Revised (CIWA-Ar) levels on two admission and discharges. Results: Patients who were admitted on second admission with higher anxiety than the prior admission had a tentative decrease in anxiety between the second admission and discharge then the previous one. There was a tentatively significant decrease of anxiety on the second admission and second discharge. Perhaps the patient was learning how to manage their anxiety with each admission and discharge. Conclusion: Alcohol dependence is a multi-faceted problem that can contribute to numerous health disparities. This pilot study suggested that it was essential, prior to discharge, patients must understand how to identify their origin of their anxiety and how to manage their anxiety during each admission and discharge.