Anxiety Disorders Among Abstinent Alcohol-Dependent Patients

The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Index (STAI) and screening questions for anxiety disorders from the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Disorders were used to assess 146 alcohol-dependent patients on admission for inpatient treatment and just before discharge, after about three to four weeks of abstinence. Eighty-four patients (58 percent) reported excessive anxiety on admission, and 32 patients (22 percent) met DSM-IV criteria for specific anxiety disorders. After three to four weeks of abstinence, both state and trait STAI scores declined significantly, and only 15 patients (10 percent) met criteria for specific anxiety disorders. Anxiety levels on admission were significantly related to severity of alcohol dependence and recent life events but not to severity of withdrawal symptoms.