Dependência de álcool e sua relação com transtornos cognitivos e mentais em idosos

Abstract

Objective:To investigate the association between current alcohol dependence and alcohol dependence during life with cognitive and mental disorders in the elderly of the city of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Methods:This was a crosssectional study with application of Mini International Neuropsychiatric (M.I.N.I. Plus Brazilian version 5.0.0), Global Assessment Questionnaire for the Elderly (QAGI) and Neuropsychological do CERAD (Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease) in 580 elderly in Porto Alegre. Results: Of the 580 elderly, 24 were current dependent on alcohol (4.2%) and 85 had dependence during life (14.6%). There was a statistically significant difference (p≤0,005) for sex, addiction to illegal substances, antisocial personality disorder and smoking for current alcohol dependence and alcohol dependence during life. The association between manic/hypomanic current episode and current alcohol dependence and the association between generalized anxiety disorder and alcohol dependence during life also showed statistically significant difference. Men were majority for alcohol dependence; males have 9,35 times the prevalence of current alcohol dependence and 12,81 times the prevalence of alcohol dependence during life when compared with women. Elderly diagnosed with addiction to other substances, manic/hypomanic episode, generalized anxiety disorder and smoking were more likely to have alcohol dependence compared to those who did not have such disorders. Conclusion: Cognitive disorders were not associated with alcohol dependence. Some psychiatric disorders were associated with current alcohol dependence and alcohol dependence during life, which warns about the importance of early diagnosis of these disorders in the elderly.