Psychiatric Morbidity, Social Support, and Coping in Wives of Alcohol and Opioid Dependent Men

Abstract

The study aimed to ascertain the psychiatric morbidity in wives of substance dependent men and to assess social support and coping as its correlates. It was carried out at the Drug De-addiction and Treatment Centre of Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. Two groups of substance dependent men (alcohol and opioid) and their wives were recruited (n = 50 in each group). The subjects were assessed for relevant socio-demographic and clinical variables, dependence severity measures, psychiatric morbidity (GHQ 12 and MINI), coping, and social support. Patients and spouses in the opioid dependent group were of younger age and had a lesser duration of marriage than those of alcohol dependent group. In both groups, more than 70 percent of the spouses had scores above the cutoff in GHQ-12. The psychiatric diagnosis was present in 16 percent and 20 percent of the wives in alcohol and opioid dependence groups, respectively, depression and dysthymia being the commonly encountered diagnoses. Social support was comparable across both groups. The most common coping mechanisms utilized were those of denial and internalization. On multivariate logistic regression, GHQ-12 scores were the predictors of MINI diagnosis. Psychological morbidity is common in wives of patients with substance use disorders. Attention to the mental health issues can relieve the distress in this vulnerable population.