Alexander M Ponizovsky1, Paola Rosca2, Ziona Haklai3, Nehama Goldberger3. 1. Research Unit, Mental Health Services, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel. Electronic address: alexander.ponizovsky@moh.health.gov.il. 2. Department for the Treatment of Substance Abuse, Mental Health Division, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel. 3. Division of Health Information, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: (1) To examine the trends in the incidence of dual diagnosis (DD) of severe mental illness and substance-related disorders among inpatients in Israel, and (2) the demographic and clinical correlates of DD patients. METHOD: Using data from the National Psychiatric Case Register, we identified 56,774 inpatients aged 15-64 whose first psychiatric hospitalization occurred between 1996 and 2010. We compared the characteristics of inpatients having DD with drugs, alcohol or drug/alcohol abuse with those with mental disorder only. RESULTS: Over the period, DD with drugs decreased from 8.2% in 1996 to 6% in 2010; DD with alcohol increased from 3% to 4% and DD with drugs/alcohol from 2% to 4%. DD with drugs was highest, whereas DD with alcohol was lowest for the youngest age- group in 1996 but increased to the same as other age-groups in 2006-2010. Male gender, a previous suicide attempt, compulsory hospitalizations and marital status were positive predictors for all DD. Immigrant status was a positive predictor of DD with alcohol, but the opposite for DD with drugs; being Jewish and psychotic diagnosis was a positive predictor of DD with drugs, but negative for DD with alcohol. CONCLUSIONS: Over the study period, DD with drugs has decreased among young patients, although it is still higher than among older groups. However, DD with alcohol or drugs/alcohol has increased in the younger group. The clinical-demographic profile of DD patients was similar to that from the relevant literature, except for immigrant status that was negatively associated with DD with drugs.
OBJECTIVES: (1) To examine the trends in the incidence of dual diagnosis (DD) of severe mental illness and substance-related disorders among inpatients in Israel, and (2) the demographic and clinical correlates of DD patients. METHOD: Using data from the National Psychiatric Case Register, we identified 56,774 inpatients aged 15-64 whose first psychiatric hospitalization occurred between 1996 and 2010. We compared the characteristics of inpatients having DD with drugs, alcohol or drug/alcohol abuse with those with mental disorder only. RESULTS: Over the period, DD with drugs decreased from 8.2% in 1996 to 6% in 2010; DD with alcohol increased from 3% to 4% and DD with drugs/alcohol from 2% to 4%. DD with drugs was highest, whereas DD with alcohol was lowest for the youngest age- group in 1996 but increased to the same as other age-groups in 2006-2010. Male gender, a previous suicide attempt, compulsory hospitalizations and marital status were positive predictors for all DD. Immigrant status was a positive predictor of DD with alcohol, but the opposite for DD with drugs; being Jewish and psychotic diagnosis was a positive predictor of DD with drugs, but negative for DD with alcohol. CONCLUSIONS: Over the study period, DD with drugs has decreased among young patients, although it is still higher than among older groups. However, DD with alcohol or drugs/alcohol has increased in the younger group. The clinical-demographic profile of DD patients was similar to that from the relevant literature, except for immigrant status that was negatively associated with DD with drugs.
Authors: Linda Tindimwebwa; Anthony Idowu Ajayi; Oladele Vincent Adeniyi Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-05-19 Impact factor: 3.390