Substance Use among Patients with Schizophrenia Attending Tertiary Care Psychiatric Hospital: A Cross Sectional Study
Journal Title: Indian Journal of Law and Human Behavior - Year 2018, Vol 4, Issue 2
Abstract
Background: It is a well known fact that majority of patients with schizophrenia use substances. Interrelationship between schizophrenia and substance use is complex & multifactorial. Patients with both schizophrenia & substance abuse pose a major clinical challenge to mental health professionals as it is associated with higher frequency of relapse. Aims: To identify the pattern of substance use in patients with schizophrenia, to correlate substance use in schizophrenia with various socio-demographic variables and to assess the relationship between the duration of schizophrenia and pattern of substance use. Method: 104 schizophrenia preceded substance use subjects attending both outpatient and inpatient department of Masina Hospital, Mumbai were included in the study. Demographic data was collected in a semi- structured proforma and substance use is assessed using Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) version-2.1. Obtained data was subjected to statistical analysis. Results: In our study, mean age of the patients was 35.02±8.84 years, predominantly males (68%), majority of them had not completed their high school (70%) and 57% were unemployed. Two-third of the subjects were from urban area and 49% lived in nuclear family. The most common substance of abuse was found to be tobacco (67%), followed by Alcohol (39%) and 44% of them had harmful use, 38% had occasional use of substances and 18% had dependence syndrome. Belonging to age group of 50–60 years, being unemployed, living in nuclear family and being divorcee were associated with using more than one substance.The most common reason of substance were boredom related (51%), to decrease psychotic symptoms (33.6%) and to decrease medication related side effects (23%). 52% of the subjects had up to 2 hospitalizations, 21.15% had 3-5 hospitalizations, 23.1% had 5-10 hospitalizations and was significantly associated with pattern of substance use. Conclusions: Problem use of drugs and alcohol by people with schizophrenia is greater than in the general population and is known to worsen the prognosis. This warrants proper evaluation, diagnosis and integrated service to tackle dual diagnosis patients holistically to ensure favorable outcome of this dual diagnosis.
Authors and Affiliations
Arun Bhat P.
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP572732
- DOI 10.21088/ijlhb.2454.7107.4218.2
- Views 120
- Downloads 0
The Relative Worth of Personality Traits of Advocates: A Perception Study in Silchar Town of Assam
The study was conducted to identify the personality traits required in a person to become a successful advocate and also to study the relative worth of the select personality traits by knowing the perceptions of the samp...
The Rationality and Constitutionality of Reservation for Economically Weaker Sections of Society in India
Reservations are an essential element of any democratic society where some population does not get fair and proportionate representation in governance and administration. Such representation is further necessary in the s...
Dynamics of Indian Legislation towards Child Health
The present article assesses the dynamics of Indian legislative system towards ensuring Right to health of children, since independence, through various legislative initiatives, making policies and launching programmes,...
Protection and Prevention of Children from Sexual Abuse in the Schools: An Assessment with Indian Perspectives
Child sexual abuse is a significant problem in both magnitude and sequelae. Children have a right to a safe school environment where they can learn to the best of their ability. Violence in schools affects children in ev...
Substance Use among Patients with Schizophrenia Attending Tertiary Care Psychiatric Hospital: A Cross Sectional Study
Background: It is a well known fact that majority of patients with schizophrenia use substances. Interrelationship between schizophrenia and substance use is complex & multifactorial. Patients with both schizophrenia & s...