A Multicenter Study on the Impact of Gender, Age, and Dual Diagnosis on Substance Consumption and Mental Health Status in Outpatients Treated for Substance Use Disorders During COVID-19 Lockdown

Abstract

Objective COVID-19 and lockdown measures impacted mental health globally and had a particular impact on patients with substance use disorders (SUD). However, the impact of gender, age, and dual diagnosis on consumption patterns and mental health during COVID-19 lockdown among patients with SUD has not been analyzed in depth. Therefore, this study aimed to examine substance use and mental health status during COVID-19 lockdown considering gender, age, and previous dual diagnosis in patients with SUD treated in different outpatient addiction clinics in Catalonia. Methods: Thirteen clinics participated and 588 patients were enrolled in the study, of whom 70.7% were men and 29.3% were women. The mean age was 48 ± 11.3 years, and 63.2% had dual diagnoses. Results: Men reported significantly more frequent alcohol and cocaine consumption during lockdown, while women experienced more anxiety and depressive symptoms. Younger patients more frequently reported consuming cocaine and cannabis, breaking the lockdown rule, worsened family relationships, and reduced incomes. Older patients more frequently reported maintaining abstinence. Previous dual diagnosis was more often associated with benzodiazepine use disorder, less active working during lockdown, and more anxiety and depressive symptoms than not having previous dual diagnosis. Conclusions: Both new psychiatric symptoms and general worsening of existing symptoms were frequent during the lockdown. Differences based on the gender, age, and dual diagnosis of outpatients treated for substance use disorders should be considered in the planning of protection measures such as home confinement.

Keywords:

• Age
• COVID-19
• gender
• pandemic
• substance use disorder
• dual diagnosis

Acknowledgements

XAD-COVID19-Group: Nieves Martínez-Luna (Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona); Francina Fonseca (Hospital del Mar, Barcelona); Susana Jornalé (CAS de la Mina, Barcelona); Xavier Samper (Hospital de Santa Maria, Lleida); Alicia Clariso (Hospital de Santa Maria, Lleida); Miriam Dueñas (CAS d’Horta-Guinardó, Barcelona); Armando Tirado (CAS d’Horta-Guinardó, Barcelona); Begoña Irala Indart (CAS Fontsanta, Cornellà de Llobregat); Rosa Pi i Marí (CAS Fontsanta, Cornellà de Llobregat); Víctor Martí Carrasco (CAS de Rubí, Rubí); Amalia Gual de Torrella (CAS de Rubí, Rubí); Raquel Allepus Encinas (CAS de Granollers, Granollers); Eulàlia Sabater Puig (Servei d’Addiccions i Salut Mental HUSJR, Reus); Tre Borràs i Cabacés (Servei d’Addiccions i Salut Mental HUSJR, Reus); Silvia Martínez (CAS del Prat, El Prat del Llobregat); Beth Pallejà i Martos (CAS del Prat, El Prat del Llobregat); Raúl Yuste (CAS del Baix Llobregat, Sant Feliu de LLobregat); Carolina Franco (CAS de Les Corts, Barcelona); Cinta Soler (CAS de Tortosa, Tortosa).

Disclosure statement

Lara Grau-López has received speaker honoraria from Janssen-Cilag, Lundbeck, Servier, Otsuka, and Pfizer. Raúl Felipe Palma-Alvarez has received speaker honoraria from Angelini, Casen Reordati, Exeltis, Lundbeck, MSD, Mundipharma, and Takeda. Josep Antoni Ramos-Quiroga has received speaker honoraria from Janssen-Cilag, Shire, Lilly, Ferrer, Medice and Rubió. He has received research funding from Janssen-Cilag, Lilly, Ferrer, Lundbeck, and Rubió. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.