Study on Disability and Psychological Problems of Individual with Alcohol Dependence

Abstract

Background: Alcohol use is a major risk factor for global disease burden, and excessive use leads to disability and psychological problems in individuals. In previous literature on various health effects of alcohol, the weight of the evidence was on illness and death. Correspondingly, in the area of psychological health, the effects of alcohol on psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia have been more broadly studied. So, keeping this background in mind, this study was planned to assess the relationship between psychological problems and disability in individuals with alcohol dependence. Objective: To see the relationship between psychological problems and disability in individuals with alcohol dependence. Methodology: This present study was conducted at the outpatient and inpatient departments of the Centre for De-Addiction Psychiatry at the Central Institute of Psychiatry, Kanke, Ranchi. The sample, consisting of 50 male individuals’ diagnosed with alcohol dependence syndrome as per ICD-10 DCR, was selected through purposive sampling. The sample age range was 20–45 years. Individuals who are suffering from any other mental illness, substance use disorder, epilepsy, or physical chronic illness were excluded. After obtaining basic socio-demographic and clinical details on a predesigned datasheet, the GHQ 28 (General Health Questioners) and World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) scales were used for data collection. Result and Conclusion: The prospective study findings indicate that the participants in the study were male, with a negative correlation seen with family income and somatic symptoms and also an association between severe depression and self-care.