Outcomes After Implementation of an Alcohol Withdrawal Protocol at a Single Institution.

Background: There are varying dosing strategies for the administration of benzodiazepines in the setting of alcohol withdrawal. In October 2014, a symptom-based alcohol withdrawal protocol (AWP) using the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol, Revised (CIWA-Ar) scale was implemented at one institution. Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the AWP. Methods: Retrospective chart review was completed, including patients receiving at least one dose of diazepam for alcohol withdrawal pre- and post-protocol. The primary outcome of this study was the average daily and cumulative dose of diazepam during hospital stay. Secondary outcomes included length of stay and occurrence of seizures or delirium tremens. Results: The average daily dose and the average cumulative dose of diazepam were significantly lower in the post-protocol group (5.4 vs 12.1 mg, p < .001; 35.0 vs 77.6 mg, p < .001, respectively). Length of stay was similar between groups (6.5 vs 6.4 days, p = .91), however, duration of benzodiazepine use was decreased in the post-protocol group (2.2 vs 4.7 days, p < .001). Despite using reduced doses of benzodiazepines, there was no increase in adverse events. Conclusions: The implementation of a symptom-based AWP using the CIWA-Ar scale was associated with a reduced average daily and cumulative dose of diazepam without any apparent safety issues.

Pharmacotherapy regimens among patients with posttraumatic stress disorder and mild traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) are treated differently pharmacologically than patients with PTSD alone. METHODS: A retrospective evaluation of PTSD pharmacotherapy of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans with PTSD (N=707) was conducted between April 1, 2007, and March 31, 2009. A total of 45 veterans had suffered a mild TBI. RESULTS: Compared with the patients with PTSD alone, the patients with PTSD and TBI were more likely to be prescribed an antidepressant (p<.001), a sedative-hypnotic (p<.001), or an antipsychotic (p=.024). The patients with TBI were also significantly more likely to receive psychotropic polypharmacy (p=.001) and to receive higher doses of psychiatric medications (p=.03). CONCLUSIONS: The differences in drug therapy found in this study may indicate that patients with TBI and PTSD respond differently to treatment than patients with PTSD alone.

Medication adherence and its effect on relapse among patients discharged from a Veterans Affairs posttraumatic stress disorder treatment program.

BACKGROUND: Clinical outcomes in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be affected by several factors, including medication adherence. PTSD is associated with an increased likelihood of missed appointments, medication underuse or abuse, and treatment nonadherence. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate medication adherence and its effect on relapse following discharge of veterans from a PTSD residential rehabilitation program (PRRP). METHODS: A retrospective evaluation of drug adherence and relapse in the 12 months following discharge of patients from a PRRP was performed. All veterans who were discharged from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2006, and were receiving antidepressant therapy were included. Adherence to antidepressant therapy was assessed by electronic prescription claims and defined as a medication possession ratio of at least 0.8 in the year following discharge. Relapse was defined as a hospitalization for psychiatric symptomatology. Predictive factors of adherence were also explored. RESULTS: Twenty-eight of the 82 (34%) veterans included in our study were adherent to medication during the 12 months following discharge. Seventeen (20.7%) veterans were rehospitalized for psychiatric symptoms, but nonadherence was not significantly associated with relapse (p = 0.91). The total number of drugs that a veteran received was related to adherence; patients who had a higher median number of medications were more adherent (p = 0.014). Age, comorbid substance abuse, combat service, and service connection were not associated with drug adherence. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients who were discharged from a residential PTSD treatment program were nonadherent to antidepressant drug therapy. One in 5 veterans with PTSD was rehospitalized within 1 year; however, medication adherence did not affect this outcome.