A Tailored Virtual Program for Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment Among Liver Transplant Candidates and Recipients Is Feasible and Associated With Lower Post-Transplant Relapse
Arpita Goswami, Ethan Weinberg, Lynda Coraluzzi, Therese Bittermann, Jonathan Nahas, Senayish Addis, Robert Weinrieb, Marina Serper
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a leading indication for liver transplant (LT) in the United States. Rates of early liver transplant (ELT) with less than 6 months of sobriety have increased substantially. Patients who receive ELT commonly have alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) and are often too ill to complete an intensive outpatient program (IOP) for alcohol use disorder (AUD) prior to LT. ELT recipients feel alienated from traditional IOPs.
Methods
We implemented Total Recovery-LT, a tailored virtual outpatient IOP specific for patients under evaluation or waitlisted for LT who were too ill to attend community-based alcohol treatment programs. The 12-week program consisted of weekly group and individual counseling delivered by a master's level Certified Addiction Counselor trained in the basics of LT. Treatment consisted of 12-Step Facilitation, Motivational Interviewing, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. We report on program design, implementation, feasibility and early outcomes.
Results
From March 2021 to September 2022, 42 patients (36% female, 23 in LT evaluation, 19 post-transplant) enrolled across five cohorts with 76% (32/42) completing the program. Alcohol relapse was more common among noncompleters versus those who completed the program (8/10, 80% vs. 7/32, 22%, p = 0.002). History of trauma or post-traumatic stress symptoms were associated with lower likelihood of completion. Patients’ desire for continued engagement after completion led to the creation of a monthly alumni group.
Conclusions
Our integrated IOP model for patients with high-risk AUD in LT evaluation or post-transplant is well-received by patients and could be considered a model for LT programs.
期刊介绍:
Clinical Transplantation: The Journal of Clinical and Translational Research aims to serve as a channel of rapid communication for all those involved in the care of patients who require, or have had, organ or tissue transplants, including: kidney, intestine, liver, pancreas, islets, heart, heart valves, lung, bone marrow, cornea, skin, bone, and cartilage, viable or stored.
Published monthly, Clinical Transplantation’s scope is focused on the complete spectrum of present transplant therapies, as well as also those that are experimental or may become possible in future. Topics include:
Immunology and immunosuppression;
Patient preparation;
Social, ethical, and psychological issues;
Complications, short- and long-term results;
Artificial organs;
Donation and preservation of organ and tissue;
Translational studies;
Advances in tissue typing;
Updates on transplant pathology;.
Clinical and translational studies are particularly welcome, as well as focused reviews. Full-length papers and short communications are invited. Clinical reviews are encouraged, as well as seminal papers in basic science which might lead to immediate clinical application. Prominence is regularly given to the results of cooperative surveys conducted by the organ and tissue transplant registries.
Clinical Transplantation: The Journal of Clinical and Translational Research is essential reading for clinicians and researchers in the diverse field of transplantation: surgeons; clinical immunologists; cryobiologists; hematologists; gastroenterologists; hepatologists; pulmonologists; nephrologists; cardiologists; and endocrinologists. It will also be of interest to sociologists, psychologists, research workers, and to all health professionals whose combined efforts will improve the prognosis of transplant recipients.