The association between substance use disorder and schizophrenia among patients attending out patient services in Mathari Teaching and Referral Hospital
Abstract
Substance use disorderis the most prevalent co-morbidity in schizophrenia. The rates of substance
use disorder in schizophrenia patients has been estimated to be 4 to 5 times that in the general
population, and contributes to an unfavourable prognosis. Other research findings differ,
suggesting that the prevalence of substance use disorder in schizophrenia is comparable to that in
the general population. Thus; the aim of this study is to determine the association between
substance abuse and schizophrenia among patients receiving services at Mathari Teaching and
Referral Hospital (MTRH). This study employed a case control design (60 cases and 60 controls).
A Researcher designed socio-demographic questionnaire, Alcohol and Substance Involvement
Screening Test (ASSIST) and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Tool (MINI plus) was used
as study instruments.
Data analysis was done using SPSS version 17.0 The mean age of participants 33.55 for cases
versus 33.45 for controls, there is an association between schizophrenia and Substance Use
(OR=3.237; C.I. 1.529-6.853,p=0.002), miraa (OR=1.053; C.I. 1.024-1.104, p=0.001) and
tobacco use (OR=1.08; C.I. = 1.028-1.134, 0.002). Schizophenia was not significantly
associated with Alcohol use (OR= 1.027, C.I. 0.995-1.060, p=0.105) and Cannabis
(OR=1.053; C.I. 0.980-1.132, p=0.16). Male gender (A.O.R. = 9.27; C.I 3.45-24.86,
p=0.00001), family history of substance use disorder (A.O.R. = 0.32; C.I 0.12-0.85,
p=0.021), secondary school education (A.O.R. =4.51; C.I. 1.48-13.76, p=0.008) are found to
be strong predictors of substance use.
Publisher
University of Nairobi