Lekhansh Shukla1,2, Spandana Bokka2, Tulika Shukla2, Arun Kandasamy2, Prabhat Chand2, Vivek Benegal2, Pratima Murthy2. 1. Centre for Addiction Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Hosur Rd, Bangalore, Karnataka 560029, India. drlekhansh@gmail.com. 2. Centre for Addiction Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the clinical characteristics and course of benzodiazepine and �Z-drug� dependence in patients presenting to a tertiary deaddiction center in southern India. METHODS: Case files of 950 inpatients admitted between January 2007 and January 2014 who reported benzodiazepine or Z-drug use were reviewed. Patients (n = 170) with an ICD-10 diagnosis of mental and behavioral disorders due to the use of sedatives or hypnotics-dependence syndrome currently using substance (F13.24) were included in this study. RESULTS: Alprazolam (n = 86, 50.6%), nitrazepam (n = 40, 23.5%), and zolpidem (n = 19, 11.2%) were the most commonly reported drugs of abuse. Alcohol dependence was present in 37 subjects (21.8%) and opioid dependence in 41 subjects (24.1%). Comorbid psychiatric illness was diagnosed in 67 patients (39.0%). Only 28 patients (16.5%) had sedative dependence with no other substance use disorder. CONCLUSION: High comorbidity occurs in this group of patients. Outcome varies significantly (P < .05) between sedative-dependent only and multiple-substance�dependent patients. High attrition should be addressed through follow-up and tracking mechanisms. � Copyright 2017 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the clinical characteristics and course of benzodiazepine and �Z-drug� dependence in patients presenting to a tertiary deaddiction center in southern India. METHODS: Case files of 950 inpatients admitted between January 2007 and January 2014 who reported benzodiazepine or Z-drug use were reviewed. Patients (n = 170) with an ICD-10 diagnosis of mental and behavioral disorders due to the use of sedatives or hypnotics-dependence syndrome currently using substance (F13.24) were included in this study. RESULTS: Alprazolam (n = 86, 50.6%), nitrazepam (n = 40, 23.5%), and zolpidem (n = 19, 11.2%) were the most commonly reported drugs of abuse. Alcohol dependence was present in 37 subjects (21.8%) and opioid dependence in 41 subjects (24.1%). Comorbid psychiatric illness was diagnosed in 67 patients (39.0%). Only 28 patients (16.5%) had sedative dependence with no other substance use disorder. CONCLUSION: High comorbidity occurs in this group of patients. Outcome varies significantly (P < .05) between sedative-dependent only and multiple-substance�dependent patients. High attrition should be addressed through follow-up and tracking mechanisms. � Copyright 2017 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.