Challenges in detecting and diagnosing substance use in women in the acute psychiatric department: a naturalistic cohort study

BMC Psychiatry

Research Article

Valentina Cabral Iversen¹  Arne Einar Vaaler¹  Ismail Cuneyt Guzey¹  Torill Vassli Sallaup² 

[1] Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway;Department of Østmarka, St Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway;Department of Tiller DPS, St Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway;Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway;

关键词: Acute psychiatry;    Substance use;    Substance use disorders;    Sex differences;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12888-016-1124-y

 received in 2016-03-01, accepted in 2016-11-10,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThis study examines sex differences in substance use and substance use disorder in the acute psychiatric department, and possible interactions between sex and clinical and social factors associated with this phenomenon.MethodsData concerning substance use were collected in a naturalistic cohort study (n = 384, 51.6% male, 48.4% female) in an acute psychiatric department. Recent intake of substances at admission, diagnosis of substance use disorder and demographic and socioeconomic information were recorded. At admission, serum and urine samples were analysed for substance use and breath analysis was performed for alcohol levels.ResultsTwice as many men as women were diagnosed with substance use disorder, whereas there were no gender differences in the number of positive toxicology screenings. Toxicology screening revealed the use of non-prescribed medication with addiction potential in 40% of both female and male patients many of whom did not report this in the admission interview. A low level of education in men and absence of parental responsibility in women showed a statistically significant interaction with a current diagnosis of substance use disorder.ConclusionsDespite no sex differences in positive toxicology screenings in the acute psychiatric department, twice as many men as women are diagnosed with substance use disorders. The use of prescription drugs with addiction potential was widely under-reported by both sexes, in patients with no prescriptions for the medications. Women with no parental responsibility are overrepresented among those diagnosed with substance use disorder, as are men with a low level of education.Trial registrationThe study is registered with the ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01415323

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2016