Eficácia dos Florais de Bach em indivíduos com síndrome da abstinência alcoólica: um ensaio clínico controlado aleatorizado

Abstract

One of the most common disorders among alcohol abusers is Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome, which manifests itself through a set of physical and psychological signs and symptoms, including anxiety and craving . It is believed that the adoption of integrative and complementary practices, such as Bach Flower Remedies, can help alleviate the most pronounced symptoms. Thus, the objective of this study is to analyze the efficacy of Bach flower therapy in individuals with Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome. Thus, the alternative hypothesis adopted was: “Bach flower remedies are effective in reducing craving and anxiety in users with mild/moderate Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome when compared to placebo”. This is a Randomized Controlled Trial. The study was conducted at a Psychosocial Care Center for Alcohol and Other Drugs III, in the city of Boqueirão, in the state of Paraíba, Brazil. To carry out the test, participants were allocated to an experimental group (floral) or a control group through randomization with the support of the website www.randomization.com . 36 users participated in the study. Blinding was achieved by standardizing the amber vials and by administering the questionnaire by a researcher who was unaware of the groups. The data collection instruments consisted of a sociodemographic and clinical instrument, the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol , Revised - Brazilian version; the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; and Alcohol Craving Questionnaire - Short Form - Revised - Brazilian Version . A measurement was performed after the use of the flower essence in five days of follow-up. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed using the software SPSS ®. It is important to highlight that after institutional approval, the project was evaluated by the Central Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte with the opinion number: CAAE 61762022.1.0000.5537. In addition, the trial was previously registered with REBEC (Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials), obtaining the opinion number: RBR-7pzb4sw. The results showed that most participants were male (94.44%), up to 45 years old (38.8%), with incomplete elementary education (80.00%), black (41.67%) and not using continuous medication (58.33%). Regarding the abstinence parameters, the participants presented a prevalence of moderate abstinence (72.22%) in the first verification. Through the Student 's t- test, assigning a significance level of 5%, statistical differences were evidenced between the pre- and post-intervention periods (>0.001) in the patients of the floral and control groups regarding the STAI state and trait, ACQSR (factor 1). Where the patients of group II had a reduction in the variables mentioned in the study, except in the ACQ-SR - Factor 2, which occurred an increase. It is concluded that there was a reduction in craving and anxiety trait and state in the group in which the intervention with Bach Rescue Flower was carried out in individuals with Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome.