The influence of gender on the clinical and dynamic indicators of alcohol dependence, the level of aggression of patients taking into account comorbidity with affective disorders.

Abstract

To assess the influence of comorbid affective disorders (AD) on the clinical and dynamic indicators of alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS), the level of aggression in patients, and to examine gender differences. Two groups were analyzed: Group F10 (n = 149) included patients with ADS without comorbid AD, and group F10 + F3 (n = 61) of patients with ADS comorbid with AD. Clinical-psychopathological, clinical-follow-up, psychometric, and statistical methods were used. Comorbidity of ADS and AD reduces gender differences in the duration of lucid periods, the depressogenic effects of alcohol, levels of physical and verbal hostility, and the relationship between social adaptation and aggression. Comorbid ADS and AD significantly increase the severity of the current mental state (CGI-S; p < 0.05), irrespective of gender. Gender influences the clinical and dynamic parameters of ADS and the degree of aggression in isolated ADS. Comorbidity of ADS and AD contributes into an increase in the severity of mental state and increases the number of factors influencing the level of severity of hostility.