Psychiatric Morbidities in Spouses of Alcohol-Dependent Men: A Cross-Sectional Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69980/ajpr.v28i1.165Keywords:
Alcohol dependence, Spouse, Psychiatric morbidity, Depression, AnxietyAbstract
Background: Alcohol dependence is a chronic relapsing psychiatric disorder with significant biopsychosocial consequences. Spouses of individuals with alcohol dependence experience prolonged psychological distress, predisposing them to various psychiatric morbidities. The present study aims to assess the prevalence and types of psychiatric disorders among spouses of alcohol-dependent men and examine the impact of socio-demographic factors and family structure on their mental health.
Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 120 spouses of men diagnosed with alcohol dependence as per the ICD 11 criteria, attending the Psychiatry department of a tertiary care centre. The severity of alcohol dependence in husbands was assessed using the Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ). Psychiatric morbidities in spouses were evaluated using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) scale. Socio-demographic variables, including family structure, duration of alcohol use, and socioeconomic status, severity of alcohol dependence, etc. were analysed to determine their correlation with psychiatric morbidity.
Results: Among the 120 spouses, 94.2% were diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, with major depressive disorder (64.2%), generalized anxiety disorder (35.0%), and suicidal behaviour disorder (24.2%) being the most prevalent. The prevalence of psychiatric morbidity was significantly higher in spouses from nuclear families (72%) compared to joint families (40%, p = 0.002). Spouses of individuals with severe alcohol dependence (SADQ-C score ≥30) exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders compared to those with lower SADQ-C scores. Additionally, longer duration of alcohol dependence (>10 years) was associated with increased psychiatric morbidity among spouses.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates a high burden of psychiatric disorders among spouses of alcohol-dependent men, with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder being the most common. Family structure and the severity of alcohol dependence significantly influence psychiatric morbidity. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive mental health interventions, including psychoeducation, counselling, and structured support systems, to address the psychological distress among spouses of alcohol-dependent individuals.
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