Primary psychopathic traits are associated with reduced subjective and cortical reactivity to unpleasant emotional movies

Abstract

Addictive alcohol drinking, craving, and overeating share common etiopathological mechanisms. We investigated whether body mass index (BMI) and craving predict outcome of alcohol-dependent in-patients.The prospective study included 101 male and 72 female early-abstinent alcohol-dependent in-patients. Craving was quantified by Obsessive-Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS) scores. We documented alcohol-related readmissions over 24 months.In males, a higher BMI was associated with alcohol-related hospital readmission (median 26.1 vs. 23.1 kg/m2, P = .007) and correlated with more (ρ = 0.286, P = .004) and earlier readmissions (ρ = −0.256, P = .010). These associations were stronger in the subgroup of active smokers (n = 79; median 25.9 vs. 22.3 kg/m2, P = .005; ρ = 0.350, P = .002; ρ = −0.340, P = .002). BMI did not significantly predict outcome in females. Males with at least one readmission reported higher OCDS scores than those without (OCDS-total, OCDS-obsessive, OCDS-compulsive, P < .040), and the OCDS scores correlated with more readmissions (males: OCDS-total, OCDS-obsessive, OCDS-compulsive, ρ > 0.244, P < .014; females: OCDS-compulsive, ρ = 0.341, P = .003) and fewer days to first readmission (males: OCDS-total, OCDS-compulsive, ρ < −0.195, P < .050; females: OCDS-compulsive, ρ = −0.335, P = .004). The OCDS scores explained 9 to 19% of the relationship between BMI and outcome in males.BMI and craving are easily accessible outcome predictors of alcohol-related readmission following in-patient withdrawal treatment. They might be used to individualize relapse prevention in the future.