A descriptive study to assess the level of anxiety and depression among alcohol use disorder patient in a tertiary care hospital of Western Maharashtra

Abstract

Background: Alcoholism, also known as alcohol use disorder (AUD), is a broad term for any drinking of alcohol that results in mental or physical health problems. In addition to the direct pharmacological effects of alcohol on brain function, psychosocial stressors that commonly occur in heavy-drinking alcoholic patients (e.g., legal, financial, or interpersonal problems) may indirectly contribute to on-going alcohol-related symptoms, such as sadness, despair, and anxiety; the association of alcohol consumption and associated anxiety or depression need to be studied. The objectives of the study were to assess the (1) level of anxiety among the AUD patients and (2) level of depression among the AUD patients. Methodology: A descriptive study to assess the level of anxiety and depression among AUD patients in a tertiary care hospital of Western Maharashtra was conducted on 30 AUD patients from April 03 2018, to April 17, 2018. The Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) containing 14 questionnaires, 7 for anxiety and 7 for depression, was administered; the collected data were analyzed and interpreted. Results: The analysis of the score has shown that 60% of the patients had mild anxiety and 40% possessed normal anxiety level in the anxiety component of HADS and 70% of the patients had mild depression and 30% of the patients had moderate depression in the depression component of the HADS. Those patients who have mild anxiety also have a mild or moderate level of depression. Conclusion: Assessment of associated anxiety and depression among AUD patients and subjecting to treatment if required will benefit the treatment compliance of AUD.