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Alcohol y Cerebro
Alcohol y Cerebro
Editorial
Summary
Alcohol-related brain damage has a growing impact provide psychosocial rehabilitation for this marginalised
on service provision. Despite the benefit of therapeutic group of patients.
interventions and a relatively good prognosis in the
context of service provision, few services exist. Both Declaration of interest
national and local initiatives are required in order to None.
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Alcohol-related brain damage
A recent audit of this fledgeling service hints at the potential 2 Royal College of Physicians. Alcohol – Can the NHS Afford It?
Recommendations for a Coherent Alcohol Strategy for Hospitals. Royal
impact on acute hospital services in England.9 The service is College of Physicians of London, 2001.
commissioned to take referrals from acute, general hospital 3 MacRae S, Cox S. Meeting the Needs of People with Alcohol-Related Brain
in-patient wards with a view to enhancing the independence of Damage: A Literature Review on the Existing and Recommended Service
people with alcohol-related brain damage and reduce acute, Provision and Models of Care. Dementia Services Development Centre,
University of Stirling, 2003.
general hospital readmissions. A review of 17 patients (for which
there are data), between 2 and 6 months of referral to the service, 4 Price J, Mitchell S, Wiltshire B, Graham J, Williams G. A follow up study of
patients with alcohol-related brain damage in the community. Drug Alcohol
indicates an average Mini-Mental State Examination score of 21.7 Rev 1988; 7: 83–7.
(range 17–30: maximum score of 30) and Addenbrook’s Cognitive 5 Popoola A, Keating A, Cassidy E. Alcohol,cognitive impairment and hard to
Examination score of 61.8 (range 23–93: maximum score 100). discharge acute hospital inpatients. Ir J Med Sci 2008; 177: 141–5.
The audit demonstrated an 80% reduction in acute hospital 6 Bates M, Bowden S, Barry D. Neurocognitive impairment associated with
admissions in terms of in-patient bed days per year. Of the 11 alcohol use disorders; Implications for treatment. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol
2002; 10: 193–212.
individuals that had completed rehabilitation, 3 died despite being
alcohol-free and stable. The remainder are alcohol-free. Four were 7 Fals-Stewart W, Lucente S. The effect of cognitive rehabilitation on the
neuropsychological status of patients in drug abuse treatment who display
initially placed in an ‘out of area’ private, specialised rehabilitation neurocognitive impairment. Cognit Rehabil 1994; 39: 75–94.
unit. One of these remains in the unit, two live in supported living 8 Ganzelves PGJ, Geus BWJ, Wester AJ. Cognitive and behavioural aspects of
and one went home with a care package. Seven individuals were Korsakoff’s syndrome: the effect of special Korsakoff wards in a general
rehabilitated in their own homes, supported by the team and care hospital. Tijdschrift voor Alcohol Drugs en Andere Psychotrope Stoffen 1994;
20: 20–31.
packages. Subsequently, the NHS team has built up expertise
9 Lennane KJ. Management of moderate to severe alcohol-related brain
within a local private nursing home which now specialises in
damage (Korsakoff’s syndrome). Med J Aust 1986; 1: 136–43.
the rehabilitation of alcohol-related brain damage, enabling
10 Wilson K. The role of specialist alcohol-related brain damage services.
rehabilitation within the trust’s footprint. SCANbites 2010; 7: 12 (http://www.scan.uk.net/docstore/Sb_24.LR.pdf).
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