Anticonvulsants for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome and alcohol use disorders.

Alcoholic patients suffer from harmful allostatic neuroplastic changes in the brain causing an acute withdrawal syndrome upon cessation of drinking followed by a protracted abstinence syndrome and an increased risk of relapse to heavy drinking. Benzodiazepines have long been the treatment of choice for detoxifying patients and managing alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). Non-benzodiazepine anticonvulsants (NBACs) are increasingly being used both for alcohol withdrawal management and for ongoing outpatient treatment of alcohol dependence, with the goal of either abstinence or harm reduction.

Treatment With Acamprosate in Patients With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders and Comorbid Alcohol Dependence.

Objective: Alcohol use disorders and schizophrenia frequently co-occur with rates higher than in the general population. There is no consensus on the best treatment for patients with these comorbid conditions. Several clinical trials have shown that acamprosate is superior to placebo in reducing drinking and is particularly effective in sustaining abstinence.

A comparative study of nursing home resident outcomes between care provided by nurse practitioners/physicians versus physicians only.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine if outcomes of care for nursing home residents differ between two groups of providers: nurse practitioners/physicians and physicians only.

Design: We conducted a retrospective chart review covering the 12-month period from September 1, 1997, until August 31, 1998.

Setting: We studied eight nursing homes in central Texas.