Substance abuse and psychiatric co-morbidities:

Abstract

Substance abuse co-morbidity with psychiatric disorders is common and has been widely reported, except in Kenya. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, pattern and socio-economic burden of a dual diagnosis of substance abuse disorder and other psychiatric conditions. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study of 691 patients admitted at Mathari ho')pitaL Only 42 patients had a first working diagnosis of substance abuse but nearly thirty-five percent of the patients scored for a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition) diagnosis of alcohol dependence/abuse. There was high co-morbidity of alcohol abuse/dependence with opiate, sedative and khat use, as well as with mood and other psychotic disorders. Substance abuse disorders correlated significantly with other psychiatric disorders. Only: 12 patients were in a drug rehabilitation unit, all of whom had a dual psychiatric diagnosis of affective disorder. There were high co-morbidity rates of substance abuse in both general psychiatric wards and drug rehabilitation units