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We aimed to examine the predictive validity of the Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV) in predicting treatment completion, over and above educational status. One hundred and ninety-six (N = 196) individuals from the Odyssey House Residential Rehabilitation Program, NSW, Australia between 2010 and 2016 were administered a structured interview including substance use disorders and the Verbal Comprehension (VCI), Perceptual Reasoning (PRI), Working Memory (WMI), and Processing Speed (PSI) domains of the WAIS-IV. There were significant differences between our clinical sample and the population norm with respect to the proportion below the mean for PSI (z = 12.27, p <.001), VCI (z = 2.33, p <.02) but not for WMI (z = 1.67, p <.10) or PRI (z = −1.76, p <.08). The WAIS-IV subscales did not significantly predict treatment completion (p's >.16) over and above educational status (p <.01). Our findings suggest that in clients in drug and alcohol rehabilitation settings a combination of skills may be impacted including Verbal Comprehension and Processing Speed. Moreover, our findings also suggest that WAIS-IV subscales do not predict treatment completion in a drug and alcohol residential setting, over and above a brief assessment of educational status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To describe the assignment of International Classification of Disease (ICD)‐10 alcohol codes as underlying or contributory causes of death by the Australian Bureau of Statistics during mortality coding for suicides according to the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) detected at autopsy. Design Population‐based case‐series descriptive analysis. Setting and participants: Data for all alcohol‐related (Alc+) suicide deaths (aged 15+) in Australia from 2010–2015 (n = 3132) from the National Coronial Information System. Measurements Alc+ suicides were categorised as those with a post‐mortem BAC ≥0.05 g/100 mL. The outcome variable was whether the case was assigned an ICD‐10 alcohol code (F10.0–F10.9, R78.0, T51, X45 and/or X65). We estimated OR for the assignment of codes in Alc+ suicides using BAC as the key predictor. We also examined several covariates that have been implicated in the risk of Alc+ suicides. Findings An ICD‐10 alcohol code was assigned during the mortality coding process in 47.6% (n = 1491) of Alc+ suicides. Higher BAC was associated with higher odds of having a code assigned; cases with a BAC over 0.20 g/100 mL over were twice as likely to have an alcohol code assigned (adjusted OR [AOR] = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.59, 2.67) compared with cases with a BAC of 0.050–0.075 g/100 mL. Compared with New South Wales, higher likelihood of code assignment was found in Northern Territory (AOR = 3.85, 95% CI = 2.32, 6.63) and Western Australia (AOR = 2.89, 95% CI = 2.27, 3.68). Compared with 15–24 year olds, 25–44 (AOR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.63, 0.99) and 65–84 year olds (AOR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.43, 0.93) were less likely to have a code assigned. Conclusions: An ICD‐10 alcohol code was not assigned as an underlying or contributory cause of death in over half of suicides in Australia (2010–2015) with a BAC ≥0.05 g/100 mL. The higher the BAC detected at autopsy, the more likely cases were to be assigned an alcohol code during the mortality coding process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective We aimed to provide a synthesis and evaluation of psychosocial interventions to prevent suicide and reduce self-harm, as well as alcohol intake, for patients with alcohol problems. Methods The systematic review was carried out according to the PRISMA guidelines and considered articles published in English from all countries. Terms relating to suicidality and alcohol problems were used to search Medline, EMBASE and PsycINFO databases. Randomized controlled trials of psychosocial interventions targeted for outpatient settings were included. Results Six studies with a total of 400 participants were included. Two investigated dialectic behavioural therapy (DBT), one internet-delivered DBT, one dynamic deconstructivist psychotherapy (DDP) and two integrated cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Face to face and online DBT was significantly associated with abstinence and reductions in consumption with only a trend for a reduction in suicide attempts in one study relative to treatment at usual (TAU). DDP yielded significant reductions in alcohol consumption and suicide attempts versus community care. CBT was significantly effective relative to TAU in reducing alcohol use and suicide attempts in one trial with adolescents but not in another trial in an adult population. Conclusion Integrated CBT has promise for adolescents, DBT may be helpful for alcohol patients with borderline personality disorder and iDBT may be useful for the wider community with heavy alcohol use. However, given the paucity of studies and the exploratory nature of these trials, there is currently no strong evidence for an effective psychosocial intervention to reduce alcohol consumption and suicidal behaviour in adults with problematic alcohol use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]