Betel-quid use and its effects on symptoms of schizophrenia and extrapyramidal symptoms among a group of patients in a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka

A Isuru,S Warnakulasuriya,D Ediriweera,A Embuldeniya,A Hapangama,K A L A Kuruppuarachchi,A Pathmeswaran,H Narammalage

doi:10.4038/sljpsyc.v11i1.8244

Abstract

The Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry (SLJP) is a peer-reviewed, open access journal published bi annually by the Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists.The Journal publishes original papers, brief reports including case reports and commentaries relevant to psychiatry and allied sciences. The Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry is committed to maintaining and conforming to the editorial and ethical standards recommended by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors.The CoverCover “The perks of working as a psychiatrist in the periphery”. – Nilaveli beach early in the morning as captured by Dr Sumudu Godawita, Consultant Psychiatrist, Trincomalee.

Highlights

There is limited research regarding the prevalence of betel quid use and its effects on symptoms of patients with schizophrenia
The rate of betel chewing among patients with and without a mental illness was 20.7% and 21.0% respectively and there was no significant difference between the two groups
There was no association between betel quid usage and the occurrence of positive or negative symptoms of schizophrenia or extrapyramidal side effects

Summary

Introduction

There is limited research regarding the prevalence of betel quid use and its effects on symptoms of patients with schizophrenia. Betel is chewed either alone or more often as a quid with additives such as areca nut, slaked lime, tobacco, cloves, or cardamom. In Sri Lanka betel leaf (Piper betle) is usually consumed in a quid of varied combinations with ingredients such as slaked lime, tobacco, areca nut (Areca catechu) [3]. Population based rural and urban surveys in Pakistan and India conducted during the last twenty-five years, report that 20-40% of the population aged fifteen years and over were betel quid or areca nut chewers [2]. A prevalence study conducted in 1995 in Palau reported that 72% of the males and 80% of the females chewed betel quid, and of these, 80% had incorporated tobacco in their quid [4]. Another study among the villagers in the Central Province of Sri Lanka

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion