Depresija i asertivnost kod alkoholičara

Abstract

Harmful consequences of alcohol consumption, both for the individual, and their family, but also for the wider community, have acquired an epidemic character in recent decades. People suffering from alcohol dependence often have symptoms of depression. Earlier theoretical models of depression, found in these people, positioned it as one of the initial symptoms, even etiological factors in the development of alcoholism. Modern research on the neurotransmitter and morphological level de-scribes the obvious changes that alcohol consumption causes, especially after long-term use, and is presented, among other things, with the symptoms of depression, that are, the analyses of his assertive capacities to oppose negative lifestyles. The conducted research analyzed the moderation and assertive capacities of 30 patients at the Department of Alcoholism, within the Special Hospital for Psychiatric Diseases "Gornja Toponica". A statistically significant increase in the presence of depressive symptoms in these individuals was confirmed. At the same time, by applying the assertiveness scale, a statistical-ly significant lower level of assertive capacities of these persons was ascertained. The analysis of the results confirmed the the-sis analyzed in other papers so that when admitting alcoholics for treatment, it would be necessary to introduce depression screening in routine clinical practice with diagnostic evaluation repeated after four weeks, in order to differentiate alco-hol-induced depression from secondary depression. Treating secondary depression could help prevent the recurrence of alcoholism. In addition to the above, assertive training within the psychotherapy of alcoholism of these patients and work on increasing their assertive capacities would be in the direct function of maintaining abstinence.