Class of 2007 Abstract / Objectives: To identify differences between patients diagnosed with a serious mental illness who test positive for cocaine and/or methamphetamine compared to patients who test positive or other abused substances.
Methods: This retrospective study of clinical data obtained through a community mental health agency that provides outpatient services for patients with a serious mental illness. The study population was divided into two subgroups: positive cocaine and/or methamphetamine drug screen versus other positive drug screens and were compared over a 12- month period for the frequency and types of positive drug screens and blood alcohol levels, days of court-ordered treatment, the number of psychiatric hospitalizations and length of stay, primary psychiatric diagnosis, and the cost of care for services provided.
Results: More females were in the “cocaine/methamphetamine” group versus more males in the “other substances of abuse” group, (p < 0.01). A higher proportion of patients diagnosed with psychotic disorders tested positive for “other substances” than for “cocaine and methamphetamine” (p < 0.01) and the “cocaine/methamphetamine” group had significantly more mood and anxiety disorders than the other group (p < 0.05). The frequency of patients testing positive for marijuana, methadone, and other opiates was higher in the “other substance abuse” group (p < 0.001). Patients in the “cocaine/methamphetamine” group had higher rates of polysubstance abuse (p < 0.001). The most commonly abused substance was cocaine (53.8%).
Conclusions: Regular drug screening for substances of abuse and utilization of drug treatment programs should be recommended for SMI patients to improve their care and treatment outcomes.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/624324 |
| Date | January 2007 |
| Creators | Brown, Jessica, Whittington, Lisa M. |
| Contributors | Fankhauser, Martha, Slack, Marion, College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona |
| Publisher | The University of Arizona. |
| Source Sets | University of Arizona |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text, Electronic Report |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author. |
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