RESUMO
To study the psychiatric co-morbidity of persons with alcohol induced cirrhosis and alcohol dependence syndrome. Cross sectional, hospital based, comparative study Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India. 6 months. Total of 80 patients, consecutive, consenting, serial sampling method, 40 in alcohol dependence with cirrhosis group and 40 in alcohol dependence without cirrhosis group. Study instruments used were Alcohol Intake database which has a section on socio-economic data and illness related data. Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Plus scale [MINI PLUS] to diagnose co-morbid psychiatric disorder. 60% of the total sample had a co-morbid psychiatric disorder. Affective disorders were common in the alcoholic cirrhosis group compared to the ADS [Alcohol Dependence Syndrome] group. There is a high frequency of psychiatric co-morbidity predominantly affective disorders in patients with alcoholic liver disease when compared with alcohol dependence alone and suggest that psychiatric intervention is needed in many patients to improve their likelihood of remaining abstinent from alcohol and for a better quality of life