PREVALENCE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL ILLNESS CO-MORBIDITY AMONG IN-PATIENTS AT THE ANKAFUL PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL, GHANA

Abstract

This study sought to examine the prevalence of substance use disorder (SUD) and mental disorders (MD) comorbidity among in-patients at the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital in the Central Region of Ghana. A descriptive longitudinal (retrospective) review of 500 case records of mental health patients aged 11 to 50 years seen in 2017 was done. Data entry and analysis were done with SPSS Version 21.0. Frequencies and percentages were used to analyse the data. Alcohol use was more prevalent in the sample studied, followed by marijuana. Similarly, co-occurring use of alcohol and marijuana was more prevalent. Prevalence of schizophrenia is highest, followed by mood disorder and antisocial personality disorders. Likewise, comorbidity of schizophrenia and mood disorder was most prevalent, followed by schizophrenia and antisocial personality disorder. Marijuana use was more associated with Schizophrenia.  However, only marijuana use was associated with mood disorder. SUD and MD comorbidity is a common occurrence among mental health patients. It is recommended that assessment and treatment protocols for such patients must also seek to identify co-existing SUDs and MDs.  Nurses who deal with mental health patients must therefore be adequately exposed to the management of co-occurring MDs and SUDs.