Indian Journal of Social Psychiatry (Jan 2018)
Psychiatric comorbidities among opioid-dependent patients attending department of psychiatry, regional institute of medical sciences hospital, Manipur
Abstract
Context: Substance use disorder coexisting with other psychiatric disorders poses complex diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Comorbidity is often associated with high rates of continued substance use, greater psychosocial impairment, and increased utilization of services. The intervention for coexisting psychiatric morbidity may improve outcome for the drug dependent. Aims: The aim is to study psychiatric comorbidities and the relation of psychiatric comorbidities with sociodemographic factors and pattern of opioid use in opioid-dependent patients. Settings and Design: This study was conducted in the department of psychiatry in a tertiary hospital. It was a hospital-based cross-sectional study. Subjects and Methods: Eighty consecutive patients with a diagnosis of opioid dependence syndrome made as per the International Statistical Classification-10 diagnostic guidelines were included. All patients were administered with a semi-structured questionnaire to collect sociodemographic profile and pattern of opioid use. MINI PLUS English version 5.0.0 scale was administered to find out psychiatric comorbidities among them. Statistical Analysis Used: Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test using SPSS version 21. Results: In the study population, psychiatric comorbidities were found to be 77.5%. Depression and suicidality were found to be present in majority of the study population followed by generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. Conclusions: Our findings have implications for treatment intervention and better management. Proper treatment of comorbidities can probably help to decrease the severity, duration, and complications of drug dependence. Hence, there is a need for screening all opioid dependents for psychiatric disorders who come for detoxification.
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