A Munroe-Meyer Institute researcher led a study that found the trajectory of anxiety and depression symptoms during alcohol treatment could predict potential for relapse.
Jennifer Blackford, PhD, associate dean of research at MMI, led the project.
Dr. Blackford and her colleagues analyzed the medical records of 1,000 people who received treatment for alcohol use disorder at a Nashville-based treatment facility for the study. They measured anxiety and depression symptom scores for up to 45 days and tested for differences in the patterns, or trajectories, of symptoms over time.
The analysis identified three trajectories:
- 70% of participants began with lower scores of depression and anxiety, which rapidly declined.
- 25% of participants started with higher scores of depression and anxiety, which declined more slowly over time.
- 5% of participants had high scores of depression and anxiety and experienced minimal reduction in symptoms.
The study showed that treatment isn’t one-size fits all, Dr. Blackford said. A large sample size and sophisticated modeling showed that people drink for different reasons and may need different treatment options.
“It’s showing us, for the first time, that there’s variability in anxiety and depression symptoms during the early stages of sobriety,” Dr. Blackford said. “Although previous studies showed that anxiety and depression returns to normal levels in a month, we found this wasn’t true for everyone. For some people, the anxiety and depression symptoms stay high, and we know these symptoms can trigger relapse.”
An anxiety disorder diagnosis did not show seem to correlate between higher and lower chances of relapse, Dr. Blackford said, and there was no symptom-related difference between genders, unlike depression.
Dr. Blackford is leading an NIH-funded follow-up study at UNMC will conduct neuroimaging of individuals shortly after they stop drinking and 30 days after.
The study also will text participants every three days asking five questions to track a detailed timeline of anxiety and depression, factoring in stress, sleep and cravings.
Dr. Blackford said they encourage providers to personalize treatment plans for individuals going through treatment for alcohol use disorder, paying special attention to people with heightened anxiety or depression.
“We have an opportunity to help people who want to stay sober be successful,” she said. “We want to use research to benefit and help people stay sober.”