Addictive behavior and alcoholism in medical students of senior courses (prevalence, comorbidity and treatment)

Background. A high level of academic load and stress create risks of alcohol abuse among medical students because they use it as a method of coping with stress.

The aim of research was to verify the incidence of addictive behavior and alcoholism among medical students and their comorbidity with mental disorders, for development of therapeutic approaches.

Materials and Methods. 455 Medical students were examined using medico-sociological, psychometric methods and the author's «Methods of clinical screening-diagnostics of addictive and dependent behavior».

Results. Alcohol abuse was detected in 13.0% of cases. Addictive behavior was revealed in 11.2% of students: 14.8% among males and 9.9% among females. The 1st clinical stage of alcohol dependence was diagnosed in 1.8% of students: 6.6% among males and 1.2% among females. Individuals with addictive behavior and dependence were characterized by a high level of social frustration, negative thinking and aggressiveness, low level of self-motivation, inability to control emotions, low level of responsibility, intolerance and negative thinking. Predominating mental disorders included stress-related neurotic, somatoform and personality disorders. Individuals with addictive behavior and alcoholism exhibited a high level of asthenia, anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, social phobia and dysmorphophobia which created additional difficulties in social adaptation.

Conclusion. The study revealed a high level of comorbidity of addictive behavior and alcohol dependence with mental disorders. Methods of aversion therapy in combination with development and fixation of optimal methods of coping with stress permit to achieve qualitative remission of alcoholism and to prevent its formation.