A cross sectional study among patients with co-morbidities of alcohol dependence and mental illness admitted in Institute of Psychiatry, Kolkata

Background : Psychiatric comorbidities are not very uncommon particularly in alcohol dependent patients. They are sometime very difficult to treat and overall prognosis is unpredictable most of the time.Aims : To measure the prevalence of several psychiatric comorbidities in patients with alcohol dependence.Settings and Design : The study assessed the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities among 100 alcohol dependent patients admitted in Institute of Psychiatry, Kolkata.Methods and Material : A semistructuredproforma and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) diagnostic tools were used among alcohol dependent patients who met inclusion and exclusion criteria.Statistical Analysis used : Statistical analysis was done by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).Results : The psychiatric comorbidities among alcohol dependent patients were depression (32%), Bipolar affective disorder (20%), Anxiety disorder (18%), Personality disorder (10%), Schizophrenia (10%).Conclusions : Most of the patients in this study were males. Those of (V-X) educational standard, male persons of mean age group 25.4 years and having monthly family income of Rs 1,000 - 5,000 were most vulnerable group of alcohol dependence with comorbidities. The most common psychiatric comorbidity was depression (32.5%).Key Message : Alcohol abuse is a great worldwide problem and psychiatric comorbidities arenot uncommon with alcohol dependence. However, the co-morbidity with substance problemsis underreported and understudied. Early detection and prompt intervention to treat alcoholdependence is essentially needed to overcome this burning problem.