PREVALENCE OF SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION AMONG PATIENTS ADMITTED IN DEADDICTION WARD TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Alcohol is the commonest substance for dependence. About 10 to 15% of males and 3 to 5% of females meet criteria for lifetime risk of alcohol dependence. Although symptoms of anxiety and depression frequently coexist with alcohol dependence, after detoxification these diagnosis are frequently left over as patients gets discharged from hospital, which can lead to high rate of relapse and non compliance to further treatment.
AIM: To study the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depression among patients admitted in deaddiction ward.
METHODOLOGY: The research design is descriptive. The sample included patients admitted with the diagnosis of alcohol dependence in deaddiction ward of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital for a period of 6 months from December 14th to June 14th, and the diagnosis was confirmed by consultant psychiatrist,. After two weeks of detoxification period, patients were given Semistructured Performa along with Beck’s Depression Inventory and Beck’s Anxiety Inventory. Finally the information obtained from the demographic profile and rating scales were analyzed with the help of computer programme SPSS.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Fifty patients were included in the study over a period of six months. Majorities of the cases were within age group 36 to 45 (36%), with male preponderance (90%). Most of the patients were from inside Kathmandu valley (54%). 96% of the cases were married, commonest religion was Hindu (82%). 32% of the cases were of Chettri caste, 32% of the cases were educated upto primary level. Majorities of the cases were service holders (34%) and 82% of the cases were from middle socioeconomic status. In the current study 52% of the cases had symptoms of depression with varying severity, which was the most common psychiatric diagnosis among alcohol dependent patients. Correlates of presence of
Depression among alcohol dependent patients in the present study showed prevalence highest among age group 16 to 25 (100%), followed by female gender (80%), unmarried (100%), Christian religion (100%), Newar caste (75%), Intermediate education (71.4%), unemployed (83.3%), and lower socioeconomic status (66.7%). Evaluation of anxiety among alcohol dependence revealed 28% of the cases had symptoms of anxiety with varying severity. Correlates of presence of Anxiety among alcohol dependent patients in the present study showed prevalence highest among age group 16 to 25 (100%), followed by female gender (40%), unmarried (50%), Buddhist religion (57.1%), Mongolian caste (54.5%), primary level education (37.5%), unemployed (50%) and lower socioeconomic status (44.4%).
Author's Name: Dr. Bibhushan Dahal