Alcohol withdrawal assessments

[Ollie123]

Just wondering how commonly the CIWA-AR is used in inpatient settings and figured this would be a better place to ask than the psychology forum since alcohol dependence severe enough to produce substantial withdrawal symptoms typically requires some form of medical intervention.

Doing some alcohol research that uses this, and trying to keep abridged on what the commonly used alternatives are.

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[OldPsychDoc]

Just wondering how commonly the CIWA-AR is used in inpatient settings and figured this would be a better place to ask than the psychology forum since alcohol dependence severe enough to produce substantial withdrawal symptoms typically requires some form of medical intervention.

Doing some alcohol research that uses this, and trying to keep abridged on what the commonly used alternatives are.

We use it as our routine assessment for our inpatient withdrawal protocol.
fwiw.

 

[Chimed]

We use it at our inpatient unit.

 

[Doc Samson]

Have used it in all settings - inpatient psychiatry, addiction unit, medical floor, and ICU. Have never used an alternative. In the hands of an appropriately trained nurse it (and the CINA for opiate w/d) is the standard of care.

 

[Ollie123]

Welp, guess that answers my question then

I just started to use it as a screening tool for alcohol dependent participants since one can easily meet dependence criteria without even approaching on the level necessary for withdrawal symptoms. We want dependant participants, but active withdrawal would screw up our physiological measures

Just wanted to get a sense for how useful it would be for actual clinical settings, and it sounds like its a good thing to have some knowledge/training in.

Thanks!

 

[TheWowEffect]

I thing it is a requirement at VA hospitals for patients admitted for alcohol "detox".

 

[Chrismander]

Is this different than the SSA?