Vol. 6, Issue 2, Part B (2024)

Background: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) often coexists with psychiatric disorders, complicating clinical management and severely impacting patients' quality of life (QoL). A systematic examination of the prevalence of these comorbidities and their effect on QoL in individuals with AUD is essential.

Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis included 62 studies to investigate the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities in AUD patients and their impact on QoL. A thorough literature search was conducted across databases such as PubMed, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library. Data extraction and quality assessments were performed using standardized protocols. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used for data synthesis, with a random-effects model applied in the meta-analysis.

Results: The review revealed that psychiatric comorbidities are highly prevalent in AUD patients, with depression affecting 45%-65% of patients, anxiety disorders 32%-55%, PTSD 18%-40%, bipolar disorder 10%-25%, and schizophrenia 5%-15%. These comorbidities were associated with significant reductions in QoL scores. Depression was linked to a mean QoL reduction of -15.2 points (95% CI: -18.4 to -12.0), followed by anxiety disorders (-12.7 points), PTSD (-10.3 points), bipolar disorder (-8.6 points), and schizophrenia (-7.5 points).

Conclusion: Psychiatric comorbidities are common among individuals with AUD and substantially diminish their QoL. These findings highlight the critical need for integrated treatment strategies to enhance the overall well-being and outcomes of these patients.