The impact of detoxification on the coping strategies in a sample of inpatient alcoholics

Materials and methods The sample of the study comprised 200 Caucasian, Greek nationality patients (147 males, 53 females) randomly selected over a 3-year period, who fulfilled the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for alcohol abuse/dependence, treated on an inpatient basis at the specialized drug and alcohol addiction service of the Athens University Psychiatric Clinic at the Eginition Hospital. Detoxification treatment was comprised of vitamin replacement (vitamin B complex, vitamin C, vitamin E) and oral administration of diazepam (30-60 mg daily in divided doses), with a gradual taper off over a week. Subjects were assessed with the Pilowski scale for hypochondria, the Leyton scale for obsessive-compulsive symptoms and the Sifneos scale for alexithymia. The questionnaires were administered at the beginning of the detoxification period and at discharge. Descriptive statistics are used for the presentation of results.