Dr Julius Burkauskas

Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist

Julius Burkauskas is a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT). Trained in basic psychology at the University of Vilnius, Lithuania, he received his M.Sc in Clinical Psychology in 2011 at the University of Leiden, The Netherlands. He defended his doctoral thesis in January 2018 at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, where he currently works as a research assistant. During his PhD years Julius benefited from quality training at the national and international level, including internships at Harvard (USA) and Hertfordshire (UK) universities.  His current research mainly focuses on examining effects of mental distress, fatigue, endocrine and inflammatory factors on cognitive functioning in patients with anxiety and mood disorders.

Aims

Our study aimed to evaluate the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Lithuanian version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), as a tool to identify patients with current alcohol use disorder among patients with anxiety and mood disorders (AMD). Additional analysis was performed to investigate cognitive markers associated with alcohol misuse.

Design

Cross-sectional

Methodology

Two hundred and seventeen consecutive outpatients with AMD (83 % women, mean 39 ± 12 years) were interviewed for the severity of alcohol use employing the AUDIT, and for current alcohol use disorder using the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview. The construct validity of the AUDIT was also evaluated against the self-rated Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ). Twenty one patients additionally completed neurocognitive testing using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Automated Test Battery.

Findings

Forty patients (18%) were diagnosed with Alcohol Use Disorder. The Lithuanian version of AUDIT had one-factor structure and high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α=0.873). Confirmative factor analysis indicated an adequate fit (comparative fit index=0.930, normed fit index=0.900, root mean square error of approximation=0.096). At a cut-off value of >=8, the AUDIT had good psychometric properties for identifying current Alcohol Use Disorder (positive predictive value=74%, sensitivity=97.5%, specificity=92.1%). AUDIT scores correlated moderately with PHQ alcohol use scale scores (ß=0.654; p=0.011), and also with a measure of impulsive decision making, specifically deliberation time on the Cambridge Gambling Task (ß= – 0.474; p=0.030).

Conclusions

In patients with AMD, the AUDIT is an internally consistent tool for identifying alcohol use disorder.

Co-Authors

Dr. Bunevicius, Adomas(1); Dr. Steibliene, Vesta (1), Dr. Podlipskyte, Aurelija(1), Prof. Dr. Fineberg, A. Naomi (2,3,4); Dr. Juskiene, Alicja(1); Mrs. Gecaite, Julija(1); Mrs. Liaugaudaite, Vilma(1); Dr. Mickuviene, Narseta(1). (1) Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga, Lithuania (2) Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, Rosanne House, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6HG, (3) University of Hertfordshire, College Lane, Hatfield, AL10 9AB, (4) Cambridge University School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, CB2 0SP.