Symptom Network Analysis of Social and Mental Health Complications of Alcohol Use Disorder

Introduction Alcohol use disorder is a global problem and is associated with various physical, mental and social complications. Symptom network analysis can provide an unique insight into the complex interaction of the various factors as regards to their contribution to all the social and mental health-related issues and vice versa. Objective This study attempts to understand this relationship in patients with alcohol use disorders by using principles of social network. Methods Relevant information was collected from patients attending Drug Deaddiction Centre of Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, by using a structured tool containing questions related to pattern of use of alcohol and social and mental complications attributable to alcohol. Results The analysis of data by Gephi software showed that regular drinking had high degree score of 19 for social complications. In addition, fights with family members and decreased work performance (weighted degree 19 and 17, respectively) emerged as prominent contributors to social difficulties apart from regularity of drinking in the study population. Harmonic centrality values reveal that frequency of drinking behaviour is more influential than other factors in causing social harms. The degree centrality for network related to alcohol use and mental health-related complications was highest for regularity of drinking followed by stress and depression. Conclusion Frequency of drinking, fights with family members and decreased work performance are prominent contributors to social difficulties while regular drinking is a factor that is even more important than stress or depression in affecting mental health of persons with a history of alcohol.