Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (9)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Hope, L. C.
Right arrow Articles by Thomson, A. D.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Hope, L. C.
Right arrow Articles by Thomson, A. D.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Alcohol and Alcoholism Vol. 34, No. 6, pp. 862-867, 1999
© 1999 Medical Council on Alcoholism

A SURVEY OF THE CURRENT CLINICAL PRACTICE OF PSYCHIATRISTS AND ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY SPECIALISTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM CONCERNING VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTATION FOR CHRONIC ALCOHOL MISUSERS

Louise C. Hope*, Christopher C. H. Cook and Allan D. Thomson1

Kent Institute of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Kent at Canterbury, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7PD and
1 Department of Gastroenterology, Greenwich District Hospital, London SE10, UK

Received 2 November 1998; first review notified 22 February 1999; accepted 30 March 1999

Although it is well known that B-vitamin deficiencies directly affecting the brain are common in alcohol misuse, no concise guidelines on the use of vitamin supplements in alcohol misusers currently exist in the UK. The purpose of this study was to assess current practice and opinion among UK physicians. Questionnaires were completed by a total of 427 physicians comprising Accident and Emergency (A&E) specialists and psychiatrists, with a response rate of 25%. The main findings were that vitamin deficiency was perceived as being uncommon amongst alcohol misusers (<25%) and there was no consensus as to which B vitamins are beneficial in treatment or the best method of administration of B-vitamin supplementation. The majority of psychiatrists favoured oral administration for prophylaxis against the Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome in chronic alcohol misusers and parenteral therapy in patients with signs of Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome. Whilst only just over half the A&E specialists expressed a preference, most favoured parenteral therapy in both cases. Most respondents did not currently have a unit policy/protocol on the management of vitamin supplementation in chronic alcohol misusers. Overall, the findings suggest that there is wide variation in current practice and highlight the need for guidelines in this area.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Alcohol AlcoholHome page
M. D. Kopelman, A. D. Thomson, I. Guerrini, and E. J. Marshall
The Korsakoff Syndrome: Clinical Aspects, Psychology and Treatment
Alcohol Alcohol., March 1, 2009; 44(2): 148 - 154.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Alcohol AlcoholHome page
A. D. THOMSON and E. J. MARSHALL
THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS AT RISK OF DEVELOPING WERNICKE'S ENCEPHALOPATHY IN THE COMMUNITY
Alcohol Alcohol., March 1, 2006; 41(2): 159 - 167.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Alcohol AlcoholHome page
A. D. Thomson, C. C. H. Cook, R. Touquet, and J. A. Henry
THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS REPORT ON ALCOHOL: GUIDELINES FOR MANAGING WERNICKE'S ENCEPHALOPATHY IN THE ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
Alcohol Alcohol., November 1, 2002; 37(6): 513 - 521.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.