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Background: Autistic people are more likely to report problematic alcohol and other substance use when compared to the general population. Evidence suggests that up to one in three autistic adults may have an alcohol or other substance use disorder (AUD/SUD), although the evidence base for behavioural addictions is less clear. Autistic people may use substances or engage in potentially addictive behaviours as a means of coping with social anxiety, challenging life problems, or camouflaging in social contexts. Despite the prevalence and detrimental effects of AUD, SUD and behavioural addictions in community samples, literature focusing on the intersection between autism and these conditions is scarce, hindering health policy, research, and clinical practice. Methods: We aimed to identify the top 10 priorities to build the evidence for research, policy, and clinical practice at this intersection. A priority-setting partnership was used to address this aim, comprising an international steering committee and stakeholders from various backgrounds, including people with declared lived experience of autism and/or addiction. First, an online survey was used to identify what people considered key questions about Substance use, alcohol use, or behavioural addictions in autistic people (SABA-A). These initial questions were reviewed and amended by stakeholders, and then classified and refined to form the final list of top priorities via an online consensus process. Outcomes: The top ten priorities were identified: three research, three policy, and four practice questions. Future research suggestions are discussed.

Aim Recording the frequency of screenings for problematic alcohol consumption by professionals involved in the health care of respective patients. The German S3-guideline screening, diagnosis and treatment of alcohol-related disorders recommends the use of questionnaire-based screenings for all patients in all settings. Methods Cross-sectional survey on screening frequency among general practitioners, gynecologists, psychiatrists, child- and adolescent therapists, psychotherapists, social workers and midwives. Logistic regression was used to explore how healthcare professionals' attributes were associated with the implementation of screenings. Results With response rates of about 20%, health care professionals reported using screening instruments for an average of 6.9% of all patients during the previous four weeks. Most of the time, custom-made questions were used instead of the recommended instruments (AUDIT, AUDIT-C). Higher screening rates were reported for patients with newly diagnosed hypertension (21.2%), alcohol-related disorders (43.3%) and mental disorders (39.3%). Knowledge of the guideline was associated with implementation of screenings (OR=4.67; 95% KI 1.94-11.25, p<0.001). Conclusions Comprehensive screening for problematic alcohol use with questionnaire-based instruments in accordance with guidelines is far from being routinely implemented in the studied health care settings. Measures to increase the knowledge of the guidelines are necessary in order to increase the frequency of alcohol screening in health care., Ziel Erfassung der Häufigkeit, mit der zentral in die Gesundheitsversorgung der Zielgruppe eingebundene Berufsgruppen auf problematischen Alkoholkonsum screenen. Die S3-Leitlinie „Screening, Diagnose und Behandlung alkoholbezogener Störungen“ empfiehlt „allen Patient/innen in allen Settings“ ein fragebogenbasiertes Screening anzubieten. Methodik Querschnittsstudie zur Umsetzungshäufigkeit von Screenings auf problematischen Alkoholkonsum durch Fachärzt/innen (Allgemein- und Innere Medizin, Gynäkologie, Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Pädiatrie, Kinder- und Jugend- Psychiatrie), Psychotherapeut/innen, Sozialarbeiter/innen und Hebammen/Geburtshelfer in der Modellregion Bremen. Mittels logistischer Regression wurden behandler/innenseitige Einflussfaktoren auf die Umsetzung von Screenings exploriert. Ergebnisse Mit Rücklaufquoten von etwa 20% berichteten die verschiedenen Berufsgruppen, durchschnittlich bei 6,9% aller behandelten Patient/innen innerhalb der zurückliegenden 4 Wochen ein fragebogenbasiertes Alkoholscreening durchgeführt zu haben. Meist wurden eigene Formulierungen anstatt empfohlener Instrumente (AUDIT, AUDIT-C) genutzt. Höhere Screeningraten wurden für Patient/innen mit neu diagnostiziertem Bluthochdruck (21,2%), alkoholassoziierten Folgeerkrankungen (43,3%) und psychischen Störungen (39,3%) berichtet. Die Kenntnis der S3-Leitlinie war mit einer häufigeren Umsetzung von Screenings verbunden (OR=4,67; 95% KI 1,94–11,25, p<0,001). Schlussfolgerungen Das von der Leitlinie empfohlene flächendeckende, fragebogenbasierte Screening auf problematischen Alkoholkonsum ist von einer praktischen Umsetzung weit entfernt. Maßnahmen zu einer breiteren Bekanntmachung der S3-Leitlinie erscheinen sinnvoll, um eine häufigere Anwendung von Alkoholscreenings im Gesundheitswesen zu fördern.

The authors conducted a study of alcohol use biomarkers and cognitive performance among 85 veterans with problematic alcohol use and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). All analyses were adjusted for demographics, depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms. Elevated levels of aspartate aminotransferase were associated with worse performance on the Trail Making Test Part A and Hopkins Verbal Learning Test. Two other biomarkers were not associated with any neurocognitive measures. Indirect alcohol use biomarkers (e.g., aspartate aminotransferase) may have a specific role in identifying veterans with problematic alcohol use and PTSD who show a change in psychomotor speed and immediate verbal memory performance.

Cruise, K.E., & Becerra, R. (2018). Alexithymia and problematic alcohol use: A critical update. Addictive Behaviors, 77, 232-246 doi:here.