Comorbid Substance Abuse in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

Abstract

Background: Depressive disorders are prevalent in primary care settings, affecting approximately 5-10% of individuals. They are ranked fourth in terms of causes of disability globally. Approximately 33% of individuals diagnosed with major depressive illness additionally have drug use disorder, resulting in an increased susceptibility to suicide, heightened social and personal dysfunction, and additional psychiatric complications.
Objective: The study was designed to find out the prevalence of substance abuse among patients with major depressive disorder, and also to find out the types of substances abused, and the degree of risk caused by substance abuse.
Methods: Eighty patients were randomly selected from Ibn-Rushd Mental Hospital for treatment from MDD. The diagnosis of MDD was made according to DSM-IV-TR criteria. ASSIST questionnaire which is designed by WHO for screening alcohol, smoking and drugs abuse was used to obtain a detailed information about substance abuse in every patient. Socio-demographic data also obtained. Data analysis was made by using SPSS-18.
Results: 37.5% of patients with major depressive disorder were found to have substance use disorders, and the co-morbidity yields higher risk of complications. The nicotine present in 27.5%, sedatives 13.7%, alcohol 7.5%, opiates 5%, then poly drug user 12.5%.the co-morbidity was high among smoker and alcoholics. 71.4% of those taking more than one substance have high risk of complication while 87.5% of those taking one substance have mild risk .
Conclusions: Substance abuse was found to be common among patients with MDD. The most common substance was found to be nicotine followed by sedative drugs and alcohol.