Patterns of Substance Use Disorders and Associated Co-occurring Psychiatric Morbidity among Patients Seen at the Psychiatric Unit of a Tertiary Health Center

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine AND Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

2 Department of Psychiatry, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

10.22122/ahj.v14i1.1275

Abstract

Background: Understanding the pattern of co-occurring mental illness in patients with substance use disorders 
(SUDs) is essential in improving the prevention and treatment of substance use-related problems. This study 
examined the pattern of SUDs, the associated co-occurring psychiatric morbidities, and associated factors 
among patients with SUDs managed at a tertiary health center.

Methods: The records of patients who presented with SUDs between 2010 and 2019 were examined. 
Socio-demographics of interest were extracted from case files. Substance use diagnoses, as well as associated 
co-occurring mental illness, were extracted and entered into SPSS software. Bivariate analyses including the 
risk of developing co-occurring mental disorder were calculated.

Findings: For most patients, the initiation of substance use was before the age of 21 years, while the onset of 
SUDs was between 21-30 years. Cannabis use disorders (CUDs), alcohol use disorders (AUDs), and nicotine 
use disorders (NUDs) were the commonest SUDs. Compared with those with CUDs, non-users of cannabis 
were significantly less likely to develop co-occurring mental illness [odds ratio (OR) = 0.25, 95% confidence 
interval (CI) =0.13-0.42, P = 0.001]. Those with tramadol use disorders (OR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.03-4.41, 
P = 0.040) and those without pentazocine use disorders (P = 0.003) were more likely to have a comorbid 
mental illness. Patients with AUDs (P = 0.001), CUDs (P = 0.001), NUDs (P = 0.001), and tramadol use 
disorders (P = 0.045) were significantly more likely to be multiple substance users.

Conclusion: Results suggest an association between SUDs and co-occurring mental illness, though differences 
in these associations were noticed across the categories of substances. This emphasizes a holistic approach to 
prevention and care of patients presenting with SUDs.

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