There has been a significant increase in the use of amphetamine type stimulants (ATS) in Australia over the last decade, and according to the National Drug Strategy Household Survey (2004) results, amphetamine is the second most commonly reported illicit substance used by Australians after cannabis. It has been widely documented that illicit drug users, and in particular ATS users, experience high levels of psychiatric comorbidity and particularly high levels of depression. Depression is one of the leading diseases in the modern world and causes significant burden to those who suffer from it. The main aim of this study is to determine the levels of depression among a sample of regular amphetamine users and investigate the subjective experience of life quality among those with comorbid depression and those without. This study was a separate component of a randomised controlled trial for regular amphetamine users in Queensland and New South Wales (Baker, Lee, Claire, Lewin, Grant et al, 2003). Participants were required to be 18 years and over and regular users of amphetamines as defined by use of amphetamines on at least four occasions in the previous month. A total of 2 14 participants were recruited from a range of sources into the study. Levels of depression (measured by the BDI-11), quality of life (WHOQoL BREF), dependence status (SDS) and drug use patterns (OTI) were all examined. High levels of depression were found among the same with 84.6% of the sample reporting clinically significant depression with a large proportion of this group falling into the moderate to severe spectrum (7 1 %). Results identified several areas of major risk for poor quality of life for amphetamine users, including dependence, frequency of use and route of administration, and showed how these risks areas can be compounded by level of depression to create significantly decreased quality of life. No amphetamine withdrawal scales were administered in the assessment protocol for this study. It is possible that some of the reported symptoms of depression could be related in part to an amphetamine withdrawal syndrome. Further study of the natural history of withdrawal and the prevalence of related metal health symptoms is warranted. This sample was a treatment seeking, dependent group of amphetamine users. The results confirm the high rates of mental health comorbidity among regular amphetamine users and highlights the added burden of disease that this group suffers. The results have implications for treatment services, which need to manage both comorbidity and individual aspects that contribute to an improved quality of life. Further analyses examining treatment outcomes for this group would be useful.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/253157 |
| Creators | Grant, Tanya Marie |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Detected Language | English |
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