Over half of psychotic disorder patients in a South African hospital had a substance use disorder
In a South African psychiatric hospital, 55.6% of patients with psychotic disorders also had a substance use disorder, with cannabis being the most common at 34.3%.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Among 248 patients with psychotic disorders, cannabis use disorders (34.3%) were the most prevalent, followed by alcohol (30.6%) and methamphetamine (27.4%). Male sex predicted most substance use disorders, and anxiety symptoms and suicide attempts were linked to alcohol use disorders.
Key Numbers
248 patients studied. 55.6% had any SUD. 34.3% cannabis use disorder. 30.6% alcohol. 27.4% methamphetamine. 10.4% methaqualone. 4.8% other substances.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional study of 248 patients at a secondary-level psychiatric hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Logistic regression identified predictors of substance use disorders.
Why This Research Matters
Most data on substance use in psychotic disorders comes from high-income countries. This study from South Africa found similarly high rates, suggesting the co-occurrence is a global phenomenon requiring integrated treatment approaches.
The Bigger Picture
The high rates of co-occurring substance use and psychotic disorders across different economic settings underscore the need for integrated psychiatric and addiction treatment worldwide, not just in wealthy nations.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design cannot determine whether substance use preceded or followed psychosis onset. Single hospital setting in Cape Town may not represent all of South Africa. DSM-IV criteria were used rather than the more current DSM-5.
Questions This Raises
- ?Are treatment outcomes different for psychotic disorder patients with versus without co-occurring SUDs in this setting?
- ?Would integrated treatment programs be feasible in resource-limited psychiatric hospitals?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 34.3% of psychotic disorder patients had cannabis use disorder
- Evidence Grade:
- Well-designed cross-sectional study using validated diagnostic interviews, but single-site and cannot establish causation.
- Study Age:
- 2020 study from Cape Town, South Africa. One of few studies examining this topic in a low-and-middle-income country.
- Original Title:
- The prevalence and clinical correlates of substance use disorders in patients with psychotic disorders from an Upper-Middle-Income Country.
- Published In:
- The South African journal of psychiatry : SAJP : the journal of the Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa, 26, 1473 (2020)
- Authors:
- Temmingh, Henk S(2), Mall, Sumaya, Howells, Fleur M, Sibeko, Goodman, Stein, Dan J
- Database ID:
- RTHC-02875
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What was the most common substance use disorder among psychotic disorder patients?
Cannabis use disorder was the most common at 34.3%, followed by alcohol use disorders at 30.6% and methamphetamine use disorders at 27.4%.
Were there demographic patterns in substance use?
Male sex was associated with most substance use disorders. Younger age and Coloured ethnicity were linked to methamphetamine use, and lower education was linked to cannabis use disorders.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-02875APA
Temmingh, Henk S; Mall, Sumaya; Howells, Fleur M; Sibeko, Goodman; Stein, Dan J. (2020). The prevalence and clinical correlates of substance use disorders in patients with psychotic disorders from an Upper-Middle-Income Country.. The South African journal of psychiatry : SAJP : the journal of the Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa, 26, 1473. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v26i0.1473
MLA
Temmingh, Henk S, et al. "The prevalence and clinical correlates of substance use disorders in patients with psychotic disorders from an Upper-Middle-Income Country.." The South African journal of psychiatry : SAJP : the journal of the Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa, 2020. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v26i0.1473
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "The prevalence and clinical correlates of substance use diso..." RTHC-02875. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/temmingh-2020-the-prevalence-and-clinical
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.