OR06-1 * NEUROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS, DEPENDENCE AND BEHAVIOR CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH KHAT CHEWING IN JAZAN REGION, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Khat chewing is highly prevalent among males (up to 37.7%) at Jazan region in the far southwest of Saudi Arabia. Most of Khat quitters showed some withdrawal symptoms and better health after quitting. However, Khat chewers consider khat chewing as a social habit and deny khat dependence. OBJECTIVES: To assess neurological symptoms associated with khat chewing, evaluate the behavior of khat chewers towards the chewing practice, measure psychological dependence among khat chewers. METHODS: A male volunteer study was conducted in Jazan region, Saudi Arabia. Seventy two khat chewers and seventy five non-chewers were recruited in the study. All participants filled a structured questionnaire asking about the neurologic symptom that was developed from the Lundberg Q16 questionnaire. Behaviors related to khat chewing were evaluated using modified questionnaire from Fagerstorm; 1978, Griffiths; 1998 and Kassim and Croucher; 2006 questionnaires. Khat dependence was measured using Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) of khat lastly modified by Kassim et al; 2010. RESULTS: Khat chewers showed higher prevalence of neurological symptoms than non-chewers. The main neurological symptoms were loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, feeling irritable, fast heart rate, and difficulty with balance. 52% of khat chewers were dependant with median SDS score of 4.5. Most of chewers (70%) were behaviorally low on the behavior scale. Dependant chewers showed higher frequency of neurological symptoms, mainly; dizziness, nausea and vomiting, being abstained and inability to sleep by night. CONCLUSION: Khat chewing is associated with disturbance in behavior. Around half of khat chewers are dependent on khat. OBJECTIVE evaluation is required to measure khat dependency. Language: en