Assessment of Psychological Symptoms and Cravings among Patients with Substance Related Disorders

Abstract

Background:Substance use disorders (SUDs) is a chronic and relapsing, yet treatable, brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite negative or harmful consequences. The study aim: This study aimed at assessing the psychological symptoms & level of cravings among patients with substance related disorders. Subjects and Methods: Descriptive research design was used. This study was conducted at Elmaamoura Hospital for psychiatric Medicine in Alexandria. The subjects of the yielded study embraced 90 patients. Three tools were used in the existing study namely interview questionnaire sheet, substance -related disorders &alcohol Cravings ( PACS),and The Symptom Checklist 90 scale - Results: more than one half of the studied subjects (61.1%) were craft workers, (94.4% ) of the patients were consumed opioid substances like tramadol, heroin ..etc., and 93.3%were consumed cannabis substances. There are distress in the three indices of the psychological symptoms among the studied subjects; Positive symptom index (64.82±15.01), Positive symptom distress index (2.86±0.62), and Global severity index (2.06±0.64).In addition to, more than half (62.2%) of the studied subjects had a high level of craving. Conclusion: There is distress in the three indices of the psychological symptoms among the studied subjects, and more than half of the studied subjects had a high level of craving. Recommendation: Assessment of level of craving, and psychological symptoms should be incorporated into routine clinical assessment of the patients with addiction and in designing rehabilitation programs grounded on individual requirements