Population Medicine (May 2023)

Prevalence of major depressive disorder in adult patients with alcohol use disorder admitted in the psychiatric ward at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, Thimphu, Bhutan

  • Bikram Chhetri,
  • Ugyen Dem,
  • Zimba letho,
  • Kipchu Tshering,
  • Borut Skodlar

DOI
https://doi.org/10.18332/popmed/166187
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 5, no. May
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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Introduction The increasing prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) in alcohol use disorder (AUD) is associated with detrimental consequences, affecting the course and outcome of each disorder. The objective of this crosssectional study was to study the prevalence and severity of MDD and associated risk factors in Bhutanese adult patients with AUD admitted to the psychiatric ward, YJigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, from March 2020 to February 2021. Methods All patients with AUD presenting for alcohol detoxification for the first time with MDD as the only associated psychiatric comorbidity were administered a sociodemographic questionnaire and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Multivariate binary logistic regression was carried out to determine factors associated with depression using two models. All independent variables were computed for multivariate logistic regression in Model 1. For Model 2, variables with p<0.2 from Model 1 were included. Akaike information criterion (AIC) score was used to construct our final multivariable model. Results The overall prevalence of major depression (PHQ- 9 score ≥10) among the participants was 38% (59/155). Participants with mild depression (PHQ-9 score = 5–9) were excluded. Participants with family history of alcohol and substance use disorder demonstrated higher prevalence of depression (p=0.03). In the multivariate binary logistic regression, female participants (AOR=2.19; 95% CI: 1.01– 4.75) and respondents with family history of psychiatric illness (AOR=4.63; 95% CI: 1.17–18.44) were more likely to develop MDD. Conclusions This study demonstrated a high prevalence of MDD in AUD patients. Female gender, having a positive family history of psychiatric illness and a positive family history of alcohol and drug use were associated with increased likelihood of developing depression. Routine screening, initiating appropriate treatment, referral and follow-up of MDD in AUD patients may improve the prognosis of both the disorders.

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