Maras Powder Usage Among Turkish Psychiatric Outpatients

Abstract

A kind of smokeless tobacco known as Maras powder, which is used in the southeastern region of Turkey, causes nicotine dependence. The aim of this study was to determine the usage of Maras powder among psychiatric outpatients and nonpsychiatric controls. The study group consisted of 276 psychiatric patients and 283 nonpsychiatric patients from psychiatry and family medicine outpatient clinics. A socio-demographic form, the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence, and the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders–4th Edition were given to the participants. The rates of Maras powder usage in the patient group (10.1%) were significantly higher than those in the control group (5.6%). Men were found to use Maras powder at a higher rate in both groups. The rates of Maras powder usage according to the psychiatric diagnosis were evaluated. This is the first study estimating Maras powder usage rates among psychiatric patients in Turkey. The study's limitations are noted.

RÉSUMÉ

Utilisation du poudre de maras (nicotiana rustica l.) parmi les malades psychiatriques Turcs en consultation externe

Une sorte de tabac sans fumée connu comme la poudre de Maras, qui est utilisée dans la région du Sud-est de la Turquie, cause la dépendance de nicotine. Le but de cette étude était de déterminer l’utilisation de la poudre de Maras parmi des malades psychiatriques en consultation externe et des contrôles non-psychiatriques. Le groupe d’étude consistait de 276 patients psychiatriques des cliniques de Psychiatrie er des centres de consultation externe Médecine Familiale et 283 patients non-psychiatriques du groupe de contrôle. Un formulaire sociodémographique, connu avec le nom de Fagerström Dépendance de Nicotine et de test de SCID a été distribué aux participants. Les taux d’utilisation de la poudre de Maras dans le groupe patient (10.1%) étaient significativement plus hauts que ceux dans le groupe témoin (5.6%). Il a été constaté que les hommes utilisaient la poudre de Maras à un taux plus haut dans les deux groupes. Les taux d’utilisation de la poudre de Maras ont été évalués selon le diagnostic psychiatrique. C’est la première étude évaluant les taux d’utilisation de poudre de Maras parmi des patients psychiatriques en Turquie. Les limitations de l’étude sont notées.

RESUMEN

Uso de polvo de Maras (Nicotiana rústica L.) entre pacientes psiquiátricos no hospitalizados de Turquía

Un tipo de tabaco sin humo conocido como polvo de Maraş, que se utiliza en la region sudeste de Turquía, causa la dependencia a la nicotina. El objetivo de este studio fue determinar el uso de polvo de Maraş entre los pacientes psiquiátricos no hospitalizados y el grupo control no psiquiátrico. El grupo de estudio consistió en 276 pacientes psiquiátricos y 283 pacientes no psiquiátricos de las clinicas para pacientes no hospitalizados, Psiquiatría y Medicina de Familia. Un formulario socio-demográfico el Test de Fagerström para Dependencia de Nicotina y la SCID fueron dado a los pacientes. Las ratas de uso de polvo de Maraş en el grupo de pacientes (10.1%) fueron significativamente más altos que los del grupo control (5.6%). Se encontró que el uso de polvo de Maraş fue a un rata mayor en ambos grupos. Las ratas de uso de polvo de Maraş según el diagnosis psiquiátrico fueron evaluados. Esto es el primer estudio que estima el uso de polvo de Maraş entre los pacientes psiquiátricos en Turquía. Se observan las limitaciones del studio.

Keywords :

• Maras powder
• smokeless tobacco
• psychiatric patients

THE AUTHORS

Fatma Özlem Orhan, M.D., is an assistant professor and the chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaras Sutcuimam University. Her current research interests are sleep disorders, geropsychiatry, and smokeless tobacco use (called Maras powder in Turkey) among psychiatric patients.

Ufuk Güney Özer Ergun, M.D., is an associate professor in the Family Medicine Department at the Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaras Sutcuimam University. Her work and research interest focus on smoking cessation, periodic examination and contextual care, patient education, chronic disease, and family dynamics.

Mustafa Çelik, M.D., is an associate professor and the chair of the Department of Family Medicine at the Medical Faculty of the Kahramanmaras Sütçüimam University in Turkey. He works as family medicine specialist in the Family Medicine Clinic and also works in the smoking cessation clinic of the Medical Faculty as a clinician and consultant. His research interests include primary care, smoking, passive smoking in children and adolescents, and smokeless tobacco use (called “Maras Powder” in Turkey).

Elif Biter, M.D., graduated from the Department of Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaras Sutcuimam University. She is now working in Kahramanmaras State Hospital as a speacialist. She is interested in psychosomatic diseases, especially diabetes mellitus, and has been involved in researchingpersonality and psychological state of diabetics.

Mehmet Fatih Karaaslan, M.D., is a professor and the founding chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaras Sutcuimam University. His research interests include biological psychiatry. He has special concern for adolescent problems and family relations.