Substance use disorders among psychiatric outpatients in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Abstract EN

Objective: The prevalence of substance use disorders among psychiatric patients worldwide is a well-known and highly prevalent problem; however, in the region of Kurdistan and in Iraq, far less is understood about it.

The current study aimed to estimate the prevalence of comorbid substance use disorders in psychiatric outpatients in the Kurdistan region.

Methods: Designed as a cross-sectional study, it was undertaken over six months from 21 April 2015 to 21 October 2015.

Two hundred and fifty men and women diagnosed with psychiatric disorders who were being seen at the outpatient psychiatric clinics in Hawler, Slemani, and Duhok, were compared with 250 individuals without any psychiatric disorder.

All participants were selected using simple random sampling.

Substance use disorder was assessed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview.

Statistical analysis was done using SPSS.

Results: Findings indicate that 12% of adult psychiatric patients experience symptoms that are comorbid with substance use disorders (4% alcohol use disorder; 8% psychoactive substance use disorder), whereas none from the control group had substance use disorder.

Substance use disorder is highly prevalent among patients diagnosed with phobia, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and schizophrenia.

Conclusion: High prevalence of substance use disorders was found among psychiatric patients attending outpatient units in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

Early detection and treatment of dual diagnosis are warranted