Distressing behaviors of alcohol dependence patients: A study from India

Alcohol dependence is a chronic relapsing disorder similar to other major psychiatry disorders. Alcoholism is considered to be stressful to the family members. This study attempted to examine the behaviors family members report more distressful in frequency and also in their severities. Family members, mostly spouses of fifty males with alcohol dependence were interviewed for the behaviors which they considered distressful. Scale for Assessment of Family Distress (SAFD) for alcoholism was used to assess the frequency and severity of the distressing behaviors. Family members of all the patients (100%) reported behaviors like excessive spending and disturbance of peace at home as distressful. With regard to severity, in addition to the above two behaviors, does not working and earning, not taking responsibility, and being physically and verbally abusive were also considered as very distressful. Sexually embarrassing behaviors, legal problems or road traffic accidents were not commonly reported as distressful.