The clinical profile inpatients with psychoactive substance-induced mental disorder and comorbidity in a tertiary hospital from January 1995 to September 2000
- Author:
Mendoza Teresa Dulce L.
;
Baroque Alejandro C.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:
The Philippine Journal of Psychiatry
2011;33(1):29-
- CountryPhilippines
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Substance abuse as well as its psychiatric consequences is prevalent in the Philippines. This causes an increase in admission rates in mental health institutions that describe these cases are rate.
Objective:
This study aims to determine the clinical profile of patients with psychoactive substance induced mental disorder and substance abuse co-morbidity.
Methods:
The medical records of patients admitted at the Community Center of Santo Tomas University Hospital from January 1995-September 2000 with the above diagnosis were reviewed. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Results:
Most patients were single, male, college undergraduate, unemployed and Roman Catholic. The mean age was 30 years old, living predominantly in Metro Manila. Most of them were smokers and occasional alcoholic beverage drinkers. More than 30% were diagnosed with substance induced psychotic disorder followed closely by co-morbidity with antisocial personality disorder and schizophrenia, respectively. The most common substance abused was methamphetamine "shabu" and the interval between the onset of symptoms and the psychiatric manifestations was 4-5 years. The presenting symptoms were restlessness, agitation and violent behavior. They also had paranoid delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations. The most common medication given was typical anti psychotics, specifically haloperidol, with a mean length of hospitalization of one month.
Conclusion:
Drug abuse was associated with a high risk for psychiatric co-morbidity, especially methamphetamine use, which is known to induce psychosis, responsible for agitation, violence and paranoia that would the require anti psychotic medication, and hospitalization.
