Assessment of Psychological Symptoms and Cravings among Patients with Substance Related Disorders

M. Balha, Selwan; Abo-Baker, Omima; Mahmoud, Sahar

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2021.191670

Assessment of Psychological Symptoms and Cravings among Patients with Substance Related Disorders

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Clinical Instructor of Psychiatric /Mental Health Nursing, T.I.N, Faculty of nursing, Alexandria University

² Prof. of Psychiatric /Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of nursing, Ain Shams University, Egypt

10.21608/ejhc.2021.191670

Abstract

Background:Substance use disorders (SUDs) is a chronic and relapsing, yet treatable,
brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite negative or
harmful consequences. The study aim: This study aimed at assessing the psychological
symptoms & level of cravings among patients with substance related disorders. Subjects and
Methods: Descriptive research design was used. This study was conducted at Elmaamoura
Hospital for psychiatric Medicine in Alexandria. The subjects of the yielded study embraced
90 patients. Three tools were used in the existing study namely interview questionnaire sheet,
substance -related disorders &alcohol Cravings ( PACS),and The Symptom Checklist 90
scale - Results: more than one half of the studied subjects (61.1%) were craft workers,
(94.4% ) of the patients were consumed opioid substances like tramadol, heroin ..etc., and
93.3%were consumed cannabis substances. There are distress in the three indices of the
psychological symptoms among the studied subjects; Positive symptom index (64.82±15.01),
Positive symptom distress index (2.86±0.62), and Global severity index (2.06±0.64).In
addition to, more than half (62.2%) of the studied subjects had a high level of craving.
Conclusion: There is distress in the three indices of the psychological symptoms among the
studied subjects, and more than half of the studied subjects had a high level of craving.
Recommendation: Assessment of level of craving, and psychological symptoms
should be
incorporated into routine clinical assessment of the patients with addiction and in
designing
rehabilitation programs grounded on individual requirements

Keywords