Alcohol-related interventions in general hospitals in Germany: public health and consultation-liaison psychiatry perspectives

Abstract

Recent epidemiological studies on substance use disorders in Germany revealed valid estimates of incidence and prevalence of alcohol related-disorders. Alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence are among the most common and frequent diseases in the general population. They have a significant impact on physical as well as on mental health status in more than 75%, and they are associated with a variety of DSM-IV Axis I and Axis II comorbid mental disorders in more than 60% of alcohol-dependent persons [1]. In Germany, about 42,000 persons/year die due to alcohol-related diseases, another at least 14,000/year are accepted for early retirement, and in about 850,000 persons/year alcohol causes periods of inability to work. At least 570,000 admissions to general hospitals/year are related to alcohol problems with an economic impact of EUR 1.9 billion each year [2].

Alcoholism and its common physical and/or mental comorbidity establish many medical and/or psychiatric treatment needs and leads to much higher prevalence rates in the health care system compared to the general population.