TITLE:
Toward an integrative model for alcohol use and dependence
AUTHORS:
Serge Combaluzier
KEYWORDS:
Structural Equation Modelling; Alcohol Abuse; Alcohol Dependence
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Psychiatry,
Vol.2 No.4,
October
31,
2012
ABSTRACT: Background: If the alcohol use and dependence disorders are differentiated by the pharmaco-dependence, they share complex relationships with other clinical disorders and personality disorders. The purpose of this paper is to produce a model that reflects its relations both among users than among addicts. Method: Data from questionnaires measuring key variables selected for this study have been collected from people with alcohol misuse (n = 83) and alcohol-dependent (n = 81) in rehab. A model of drug dependence has been produced from these data that gives complete satisfaction to the criteria of SEM. Discussion: This model reflects the shift from abuse to a dependent consumption by the presence of feedbacks involving pharmaco-dependence, disturbance of the alcohol consumption by psychological distress and depressive traits. To further guarantee its validity, however it should be tested by collecting data from other surveys.