Abstract
Background While nonmedical use of opioids and psychiatric disorders are prevalent in the population, little is known about the temporal ordering between nonmedical opioid use and dependence and psychiatric disorders. Method Data were gathered in a face-to-face survey of the United States conducted in the 2001–2002 (NESARC wave 1). Participants were household and group quarters residents aged 18 years and older ( n = 43,093). Cox proportional hazards models with time-dependent covariates were used to investigate potential pathways between lifetime nonmedical opioid use/dependence and psychiatric disorders. Results Preexisting psychiatric disorders (mood disorders, major depressive disorder, bipolar I disorder, anxiety disorders, panic and generalized anxiety disorders) were associated with an increased risk of nonmedical opioid use, with hazard ratios ranging from 2.2[95% CI = 1.6–3.1] (any anxiety disorder) to 3.1[95% CI = 2.4–2.4] (bipolar I disorder). Preexisting nonmedical opioid use was associated with an increased risk of onset of psychiatric disorders, with hazard ratios ranging from 2.8[95% CI = 2.2–3.6] (generalized anxiety disorder) to 3.6[95% CI = 2.6–4.9] (bipolar I disorder), adjusted for demographics and other illegal drug use. Nonmedical use of opioids led to the development of dependence more often among individuals with preexisting psychiatric disorders, hazard ratios were particularly strong for generalized anxiety disorder (HR = 10.8, 95% CI = 4.9–23.7) and bipolar I disorder (HR = 9.7, 95% CI = 5.4–17.3). Preexisting opioid dependence resulting from nonmedical opioid use was associated with an increased risk of onset of psychiatric disorders, with hazard ratios ranging from 4.9[95% CI = 3.0–7.9] (mood disorders) to 8.5[95% CI = 4.5–16.0] (panic disorder), adjusted for demographics and alcohol and/or other illegal drug dependence. Conclusions Our findings support a general vulnerability to nonmedical opioid use and major psychopathologies, as well as evidence for a ‘self-medication’ model for dependence resulting from nonmedical opioid use with bipolar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.