Program Overview

Alcohol abuse and dependence are common chronic disorders associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Pharmacotherapies that have demonstrated improved outcomes in patients with alcohol abuse and dependence are available along with psychosocial interventions that foster motivation for abstinence, develop positive therapeutic relationships, teach coping skills, improve interpersonal functioning, and enhance social support systems. As with treatments for other chronic illnesses, the effectiveness of these evidence-based therapies is often limited by patient nonadherence. Treatment modalities that improve patient adherence to both psychosocial and pharmacologic therapies can improve outcomes, as can individualizing therapy to match the patient’s characteristics and needs to the most appropriate course of treatment. This educational activity will address the factors that hinder treatment adherence in patients with alcohol abuse and dependence and discuss the role of psychosocial and pharmacologic therapies in helping patients attain and maintain abstinence.

Educational Objectives

After completing this activity, participants should be better able to:

• Identify barriers to treatment adherence in patients with alcohol abuse and dependence

• Discuss techniques for monitoring medication adherence

• Describe differences in patient adherence to various pharmacologic agents for the treatment of alcohol dependence

• Implement practical adherence-enhancing strategies for the treatment of alcohol dependence in the primary care setting

Target Audience

This activity is intended for primary care physicians and other health care professionals interested in learning more about treatment strategies for the management of alcohol abuse and dependence.

Accreditation Statement

SciMed is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation

SciMed designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMAPRA Category 1 Credit ^TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Faculty Disclosure

SciMed assesses conflicts of interest with its faculty and all individuals who are in a position to control the content of CME activities. All relevant conflicts of interest that are identified are resolved by SciMed to ensure fair balance and scientific objectivity.

When asked to report any potential conflict(s) of interest, faculty reported the following:

Robert Swift, MD, PhD
Grants/Research Support: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Company, Forest Laboratories, Ortho-McNeil, Inc., Pfizer Inc.
Consultant: Alkermes, Forest Laboratories, Ortho-McNeil, Inc., Pfizer Inc., Transcept Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Speakers’ Bureau: Cephalon, Inc., Forest Laboratories.

All SciMed personnel involved in the development of content for this activity have no relevant conflicts to report.

The materials for this activity were peer-reviewed and the reviewer had no relevant conflicts to report.

Activity Chairperson

Robert Swift, MD, PhD
Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior
Brown University Medical School
Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies
Associate Chief of Staff for Research
Providence VA Medical Center
Providence, Rhode Island

Faculty

N/A