A real-world ten-week follow-up of the COVID outbreak in an outpatient drug clinic in Salamanca (Spain).

OBJECTIVE: To compare over ten weeks the number of relapses, hospital admissions, calls made, admissions to therapeutic communities, face-to-face visits, treatment adjustment, number of injectables administered, and number of emergencies attended due to emotional and behavioral alterations and/or substance use disorder, and to describe and quantify social emergencies in an outpatient drug clinic (ODC) in Salamanca (Spain) from March 16, 2020, to May 22, 2020. METHODS: This is an ecological study of the COVID pandemic over ten weeks. The study examines the set of alcohol or other drug-dependent or dual disorder patients in the population of Salamanca, Spain. The measurements were: professionals; calls made; percentage of successful calls; face-to-face visits; first visits made; reviews made; techniques; injectable treatments; other treatments; evolution; relapses. The ODC includes about 375 new patients each year and another 650 other patients annually. RESULTS: The study found the number of relapses to be greater in the last five weeks of the 10-week study period. Patients' psychopathological instability also increased, and face-to-face visits were necessary. The most frequent psychopathology that required face-to-face intervention was depressive disorder. The number of interventions with patients increased. In parallel, social workers' efforts were greater after the seventh week. There was a decrease in response to calls. Throughout this time, the ODC attended to patients who needed to be treated for the first time. CONCLUSIONS: Confinement due to the coronavirus pandemic generated maladaptive emotional responses and other behaviors, such as excessive alcohol consumption. The number of face-to-face consultations, admissions, and referrals to therapeutic communities increased. Patients under stress and in social isolation resorted more often to substance use. The ODC had to adopt a flexible approach to evaluate patients with more serious problems, by using face-to-face assessments.

Disfunciones sexuales en el alcoholismo / Sexual dysfunction in alcoholism

La prevalencia de disfunciones sexuales en el alcoholismo es alta y oscila, según distintos estudios, entre el 3,2 por ciento y el 64,4 por ciento. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo investigar la frecuencia de este tipo de alteraciones en una muestra de pacientes alcohólicos que estaban en tratamiento por esta enfermedad. Así mismo, se pretende averiguar los factores que pueden influir en su génesis, además del alcohol. La muestra de estudio comprendía 183 personas, 150 varones y 33 mujeres cuya edad media era de 43 años. Se administró a los pacientes una encuesta autoaplicada y anónima que contenía el Cuestionario de Funcionamiento Sexual de LoPiccolo (SHF). Así mismo se determinaron los niveles de testosterona, estradiol y prolactina. Los resultados principales fueron: el funcionamiento sexual global era aceptable (puntuación global: 0,415 ñ 0,155) y significativamente mejor en los varones que en las mujeres; el 45 por ciento mantenía relaciones semanalmente, el 69 por ciento experimentaba deseo sexual durante la semana, el 81 por ciento de los varones no tenía problemas en alcanzar y mantener la erección y el 10 por ciento refería eyaculación precoz; en el grupo de mujeres, el 10 por ciento refería vaginismo y el 5 por ciento dolor en el coito. Los niveles de testosterona, estradiol y prolactina estaban en el rango normal; ni el diagnóstico, ni la cantidad de gramos de alcohol consumido, ni la situación de abstinencia o consumo influía en el funcionamiento sexual global. La presencia de enfermedades somáticas y la ingestión de medicamentos, principalmente Cianamida cálcica, empeoraban significativamente el funcionamiento sexual global (AU)

The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in alcoholism very frequent and fluctuates between 3.2% and 64.4 %, according different studies. The aim of this research is to study sexual dysfunction frequency in a sample of alcoholic patients who were undergoing treatment for this illness. We also analyse the factors, in addition to alcohol, that could influence these disorders. The study consists of an anonymous, selfadministered questionnaire on sexual behaviour, designed by LoPiccolo (SHF), with a sample of 183 individuals, 150 men and 33 women with an average age of 43 years. Levels of testosterone, estradiol and prolactin were also measured. The main results were as follows: overall sexual functioning was acceptable (overall score: 0.415 ± 0.155), and was significantly better in men than in women; 45% had sexual relations weekly, 69% experienced sexual desire during the week, 81% of men had no problems in reaching and maintaining an erection, 10% referred to premature ejaculation. In the group of women, 10% suffered from vaginismus and 5% from pain during coitus. Levels of testosterone, estradiol and prolactin were within the standard range. Neither the diagnosis, the amount of alcohol consumed nor abstinence or consumption of alcohol influenced overall sexual behaviour. The presence of somatic diseases and the intake of medicaments, particularly calcium cyanamide, significantly diminish general sexual performance (AU)