Author/Editor     Lovrečič, Mercedes; Lovrečič, Barbara; Dernovšek, Mojca Z; Tavčar, Rok; Maremmani, Icro
Title     Unreported double frequency of heroin addicts visiting psychiatric services and addiction treatment services
Type     članek
Source     Heroin Addict Relat Clin Probl
Vol. and No.     Letnik 6, št. 3
Publication year     2004
Volume     str. 25-9
Language     eng
Abstract     The aim of this chart review was to find out the extent of unreported double frequency (UDF) and characteristics of patients. A total of 37 patients with heroin addiction who were treated simultaneously in both services (Mental Health Service (MHS] and Centre for Prevention and Treatment of Illegal Drug Addiction [CPT]) in the last LO years (the period during which the two services have coexisted) were identified. Patients were interviewed and case records were analyzed. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected and the AbSo instrument was used. Factor analysis was used to identify clusters of symptoms reported by patients and models of drug prescription in patients receiving or not receiving methadone. Lastly we studied Pearson's correlation between identified symptomatological factors and identified models of drug prescription. In two thirds of our patients in the MHS, drug addiction was not recognized at first consultation. Patients tended to deny their drug-related problems and methadone maintenance. Depressive symptoms and anxiety were the features most commonly found in our sample, while psychotic symptoms were rare. There was poor cooperation between general psychiatric and addiction services, which led to addiction being underdiagnosed and withdrawal symptoms being mistreated.
Descriptors     HEROIN DEPENDENCE
SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT CENTERS
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
METHADONE
ANXIETY DISORDERS
DEPRESSIVE DISORDER
PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS
BENZODIAZEPINES
ANTIDEPRESSIVE AGENTS
ANTIPSYCHOTIC AGENTS
SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS
FACTOR ANALYSIS, STATISTICAL