Which Factors Are Associated With Comorbid Psychiatric Conditions in Patients Affected by Substance Use Disorders? The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Dual-Diagnosis Subjects

Abstract

Objective: To investigate demographic/cinical variables associated to dual diagnosis and the psychological reaction of dual-diagnosis patients to COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Information was collected at the Addiction Service of Monza, Italy. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), a self-report questionnaire measuring the subjective response to a traumatic event, was administered. Univariate analyses and binary logistic regression were performed. IES-R scores were compared between groups defined by qualitative variables through one-way analyses of variance (ANOVA). Results: 118 outpatients were included, 48.3% with dual diagnosis. Alcohol use disorder and being female were associated to dual diagnosis. IES-R scores were significantly higher in the dual-diagnosis group, especially for personality disorders (PDs). IES-R scores were higher in patients taking treatment for substance use disorder (SUD). Conclusions: Females and alcohol abusers were at-risk subjects for dual diagnosis. Patients with SUD and PDs may benefit from additional support, especially when traumatic life events occur. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04694482

Keywords:

• Substance Use Disorder (SUD)
• psychiatric comorbidity
• dual diagnosis clinical factors
• COVID-19
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Acknowledgments

None.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author (E.C.) upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

None.