[Stabilisation of abstinence by means of psychoeducation for patients with alcoholic liver disease awaiting liver transplantation].

Background: A manualised six-month psychoeducational intervention was conducted in patients with alcoholic liver disease and abstinence problems who were waiting for a transplantation.

Objectives: In a naturalistic design it was investigated whether the intervention could improve patients' alcohol abstinence.

Methods: Between January 2002 and November 2003, 72 patients were enrolled in the therapeutic intervention, 48 of whom participated in group therapy. Health-related quality of life (SF-12), anxiety and depression (HADS-D), symptom strain (BSI) and social support (F-SOZU) were measured. Alcohol abstinence was examined in each group session by measuring the alcohol concentration in breath.

Results: At the beginning and end of the group therapy patients showed subsyndromal measures of anxiety and depression and minor symptoms of psychopathology. Physical quality of life was reduced (t = -8.694; df = 44; p < .001). Mental quality of life was in the range of the normative sample and was correlated with depression (r = -0.400; p = .009). Patients perceived high social support (t = 8.213; df = 45; p < .001). During the course of therapy four patients had relapses but the remaining patients stayed abstinent. Physical quality of life improved (t = -2.275; df = 27; p = .031), mental quality of life and symptom strain remained stable.

Conclusions: The therapy presented here facilitated a stabilisation of mental well-being in patients with alcoholic liver disease who were waiting for organ transplantation. The relapse rate measured by alcohol concentration in breath remained low.