Factors associated with quality of life trajectories among inpatients treated for alcohol use disorders: A prospective cohort study

AIMS: The main study purpose was to investigate patient- and treatment-related factors associated with overall quality of life (OQOL) trajectories during and after inpatient alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment. DESIGN: A large-scale prospective multicenter cohort study of patients with different substance use disorder (SUD) types who were consecutively admitted for inpatient SUD treatment. Data were obtained at treatment entry (T1), discharge (T2), three months after discharge (T3), and one year after discharge (T4). The inclusion criterion was that the patient be dependent solely on alcohol. OQOL data were collected at all four time points. Independent variables included demographics, mental distress, psychiatric disorders, substance use, treatment history, and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: Among the 611 patients available, 236 met the AUD inclusion criterion and completed T1 assessments. A linear mixed model showed substantial co-occurrence between higher mental distress and lower OQOL. Higher patient satisfaction with inpatient treatment (T2) was associated with higher trajectories of OQOL, whereas abstinence (T3) was not. There was a substantial increase in OQOL from T1 to T2, which then remained stable during the last two assessment time points. CONCLUSIONS: Routine OQOL screening at treatment entry, and targeting mental distress both during and after inpatient treatment, may be associated with improved OQOL among individuals with AUD. Further research should investigate inpatient treatment factors that contribute to OQOL improvement and those that moderate the relationship between patient satisfaction and OQOL.