1Postgraduate, Department of Community Health, St. John's Medical College and Hospital
2Medical Intern, St. John's Medical College and Hospital
3Associate Professor, Department of Community Health, St. John's Medical College and Hospital
4Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, St. John's Medical College and Hospital
5Professor and Head, Department of Community Health, St. John's Medical College and Hospital
*Corresponding author: B Ramakrishna Goud, Associate Professor & Coordinator, Maanasi-Rural Community Based Mental Health Programme, Department of Community Health, St. John's Medical College and Hospital, Karnataka, India. Contact No: +91 080 2206 5043 (Office) +919886189989 (Mobile). Fax: +91 080 2552 0777, E-mail: bramakrishnagoud@gmail.com
Online published on 23 January, 2014.
Depression is a common mental disorder and women are more affected. Western studies show that subjects with psychiatric disorders have higher rates of tobacco dependence. In India there is limited literature regarding persons affected with psychiatric disorders and co morbid substance use especially in rural communities.
To study the association between depression and substance use among women in a rural
area of Bangalore Urban District.
This case control study was based on the registry of a Community Based Mental Health Program located at a rural area in Bangalore district. Cases were women with diagnosis of depression and on treatment. Age-matched controls were women without depression selected from the same neighborhood as the case. Selected subjects were administered Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (Smokeless and Smoking Tobacco), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and Drug Abuse Screening Test to assess substance use and dependence.
51 cases and 102 matched controls consented to participate in the study. 24(47.1%) cases and 49(48.1%) controls were using a substance. Smokeless tobacco was the substance used by all cases and controls, in addition 2(4.1%) controls were found to use alcohol. 9(37.6%) cases and 19(38.9%) controls had a high level of nicotine dependence. There was no significant association seen between depression and substance use (Odds ratio=0.96, 95% CI=0.49 - 1.88, p=0.9) or level of nicotine dependence (Chi square=2.88, df=2, p=0.23) in this study. The high levels of tobacco use in the study population (47.1% among cases and 48.1% among controls is a pointer to the need for future studies to determine the levels of use of smokeless tobacco among women and necessary interventions for the same.
Depression, substance use, women
