Abstract
Introduction Alcohol dependence is a relapsing condition resulting in significant comorbidity and subsequent use of health resources. Patients are repeatedly admitted into acute care for acute alcohol withdrawal management and stabilisation of their physical condition. Patients are frequently labelled as treatment resistant/non-compliant, despite the fact that a significant proportion of these individuals may have underlying alcohol-related brain injury (ARBI), which results in reduced capacity to understand or engage in treatment. 1 Unfortunately, it is rare that assessment for ARBI is undertaken, and therefore the condition goes undetected. Methods Patients presenting to acute care with an alcohol-related problem were assessed for risk of ARBI by the Alcohol Specialist Nurse performing a MoCA © . 2 A score of Results Eighty-nine patients were diagnosed as having ARBI (MoCA 2 grand mall seizures. Median alcohol consumption was 24 units per day (IQR = 15) at baseline and showed no statistical difference at 3 or 6 month follow-up. Conclusion Screening for ARBI results in detection of otherwise undiagnosed cognitive impairment that renders traditional alcohol treatment approaches ineffective. This group of patients have significant co-morbid conditions likely to benefit from integrated bespoke pathways of care. An acute admission should be utilised as an ideal window of opportunity to assess the patient while they are alcohol free, and plan appropriate treatment which has the potential to prevent people progressing to end stage dementia. References 1 Wilson K. Alcohol and brain damage in adults with reference to high-risk groups. Royal College of Psychiatrists . Report number: CR185, 2014. 2 Wester AJ, Westhoff J, Kessels RPC, et al . The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) as a measure of severity of amnesia in patients with alcohol-related cognitive impairments and Korsakoff Syndrome. Clinical Neuropsychiatry . 2013; 10 :131141. Disclosure of Interest None Declared
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