Depression in Primary Caregivers of Patients of Psychoactive Substance Use

Abstract

Aim: To determine the depression in primary caregivers of patients of psychoactive substance use. Study design: Descriptive cross-sectional Place and duration of study: Department of Psychiatry, Jinnah Medical College Hospital Peshawar from 1st June 2020 to 31st December 2020. Methodology: One hundred and twenty patients of both genders were enrolled. Patients detailed demographics age, sex and body mass index were recorded after taking informed written consent. Patients were aged between 18-70 years of age. Depression and anxiety were calculated in primary caregivers of patients of psychoactive substance use. Results: Seventy (58.3%) patients were males and 50 (41.7%) patients were females. Mean age of the patients were 33.12±7.15 years with mean body mass index 25.08 ± 16.5 kg/m2. Psychoactive substance use resulted high level of depression and anxiety among the patients. 15 (12.5%) patients had mild, 30 (25%) showed moderate and 75 (62.5%) patients showed severe depression. Anxiety among patients was 12 (10%) mild, 26 (21.7%) moderate and 82 (68.3%) patients had severe. 30(25%) were illiterate and 90 (75%) were literate. Conclusion: The caregivers of patients of psychoactive substance use had severity of depression with negative intimation among the cases. In patients with substance use disorders, depression and anxiety are usually found. The development of anxiety and depression on the one hand is obviously associated with the seriousness of medication-related issues on the other side. Keywords: Anxiety, Depression, Substance use, Caregivers.