Frequency and correlates of comorbid psychiatric illness in patients with heroin use disorder admitted to Stikland Opioid Detoxification Unit, South Africa

Background. There is a lack of studies addressing the frequency and correlates of comorbidities among heroin users admitted for treatment in South Africa (SA). Objective. To assess the frequency and correlates of psychiatric comorbidity among patients with heroin use disorder admitted to the Opioid...

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Main Authors: Lisa Dannatt, Karen Jacqueline Cloete, Martin Kidd, Lize Weich
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2014-08-01
Series:South African Journal of Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/540
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author Lisa Dannatt
Karen Jacqueline Cloete
Martin Kidd
Lize Weich
author_facet Lisa Dannatt
Karen Jacqueline Cloete
Martin Kidd
Lize Weich
author_sort Lisa Dannatt
collection DOAJ
description Background. There is a lack of studies addressing the frequency and correlates of comorbidities among heroin users admitted for treatment in South Africa (SA). Objective. To assess the frequency and correlates of psychiatric comorbidity among patients with heroin use disorder admitted to the Opioid Detoxification Unit at Stikland Hospital in the Western Cape, SA. Method. Participants (N=141) were assessed for psychiatric illness (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview), comorbid substance use disorders (World Health Organization’s Alcohol Smoking Substance Involvement Screening Tool), and legal and social problems (Maudsley Addiction Profile). Demographic, personal, psychiatric and substance-use history, in addition to mental state examination on admission, were collected from the case notes. Results. The largest group of patients (n=56, 40%) had not been abstinent from heroin use since drug debut, and most had been arrested for drug-related activities (n=117, 83%) and had family conflicts related to use (n=135, 96%). Nicotine was the most common comorbid substance of dependence (n=137, 97%) and methamphetamine was the most common comorbid substance abused (n=73, 52%). The most common comorbid psychiatric illness was previous substance-induced psychosis (n=42, 30%) and current major depressive disorder (n=37, 26%). Current major depressive disorder was significantly associated with females (p=0.03), intravenous drug use (p=0.03), alcohol use (p=0.02), and a higher number of previous rehabilitation attempts (p=0.008). Conclusion. Patients with heroin use disorders present with high rates of psychiatric comorbidities, which underscores the need for substance treatment services with the capacity to diagnose and manage these comorbidities.
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spelling doaj.art-6e15f3c1649941a3aa75c11830542e7f2022-12-22T01:56:21ZengAOSISSouth African Journal of Psychiatry1608-96852078-67862014-08-01203e1e610.4102/sajpsychiatry.v20i3.54022Frequency and correlates of comorbid psychiatric illness in patients with heroin use disorder admitted to Stikland Opioid Detoxification Unit, South AfricaLisa Dannatt0Karen Jacqueline Cloete1Martin Kidd2Lize Weich3Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South AfricaDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South AfricaCentre for Statistical Consultation, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South AfricaDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South AfricaBackground. There is a lack of studies addressing the frequency and correlates of comorbidities among heroin users admitted for treatment in South Africa (SA). Objective. To assess the frequency and correlates of psychiatric comorbidity among patients with heroin use disorder admitted to the Opioid Detoxification Unit at Stikland Hospital in the Western Cape, SA. Method. Participants (N=141) were assessed for psychiatric illness (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview), comorbid substance use disorders (World Health Organization’s Alcohol Smoking Substance Involvement Screening Tool), and legal and social problems (Maudsley Addiction Profile). Demographic, personal, psychiatric and substance-use history, in addition to mental state examination on admission, were collected from the case notes. Results. The largest group of patients (n=56, 40%) had not been abstinent from heroin use since drug debut, and most had been arrested for drug-related activities (n=117, 83%) and had family conflicts related to use (n=135, 96%). Nicotine was the most common comorbid substance of dependence (n=137, 97%) and methamphetamine was the most common comorbid substance abused (n=73, 52%). The most common comorbid psychiatric illness was previous substance-induced psychosis (n=42, 30%) and current major depressive disorder (n=37, 26%). Current major depressive disorder was significantly associated with females (p=0.03), intravenous drug use (p=0.03), alcohol use (p=0.02), and a higher number of previous rehabilitation attempts (p=0.008). Conclusion. Patients with heroin use disorders present with high rates of psychiatric comorbidities, which underscores the need for substance treatment services with the capacity to diagnose and manage these comorbidities.http://www.sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/540Co-morbid psychiatric illnessCo-morbid substance use disordersDetoxificationHeroin dependenceHeroin use disorderSouth Africa
spellingShingle Lisa Dannatt
Karen Jacqueline Cloete
Martin Kidd
Lize Weich
Frequency and correlates of comorbid psychiatric illness in patients with heroin use disorder admitted to Stikland Opioid Detoxification Unit, South Africa
South African Journal of Psychiatry
Co-morbid psychiatric illness
Co-morbid substance use disorders
Detoxification
Heroin dependence
Heroin use disorder
South Africa
title Frequency and correlates of comorbid psychiatric illness in patients with heroin use disorder admitted to Stikland Opioid Detoxification Unit, South Africa
title_full Frequency and correlates of comorbid psychiatric illness in patients with heroin use disorder admitted to Stikland Opioid Detoxification Unit, South Africa
title_fullStr Frequency and correlates of comorbid psychiatric illness in patients with heroin use disorder admitted to Stikland Opioid Detoxification Unit, South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Frequency and correlates of comorbid psychiatric illness in patients with heroin use disorder admitted to Stikland Opioid Detoxification Unit, South Africa
title_short Frequency and correlates of comorbid psychiatric illness in patients with heroin use disorder admitted to Stikland Opioid Detoxification Unit, South Africa
title_sort frequency and correlates of comorbid psychiatric illness in patients with heroin use disorder admitted to stikland opioid detoxification unit south africa
topic Co-morbid psychiatric illness
Co-morbid substance use disorders
Detoxification
Heroin dependence
Heroin use disorder
South Africa
url http://www.sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/540
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