Stressful and Traumatic Experiences among Women with Alcohol Use Disorders in India

Alcohol use disorder research in India: An update

Background

Despite alcohol use being a risk factor for numerous health-related conditions and alcohol use disorder (AUD) recognized as a disease, there was limited research in India until 2010. This narrative review aims to evaluate AUD-related research in India from 2010 to July 2023.

Methods

A PubMed search used key terms for AUD in India after 2010. Indian and international journals with regional significance that publish alcohol-related research were searched by each author individually. These were then collated, and duplicates were removed. In addition, we also conducted a gray literature search on focused areas related to AUD.

Results

The alcohol-related research in India after 2010 focused on diverse areas associated with alcohol use. Some areas of research have received more attention than others. Two major epidemiological surveys conducted in the past decade reveal that around 5% have a problematic alcohol use pattern. Factors associated with alcohol use, like genetic, neurobiological, psychological, and sociocultural, were studied. The studies focused on the clinical profile of AUD, including their correlates, such as craving, withdrawal, alcohol-related harm, and comorbid psychiatric and medical illnesses. During this period, minimal research was conducted to understand AUD's laboratory biomarkers, course, and prognosis. While there was a focus on generating evidence for different psychological interventions for alcohol dependence in management-related research, pharmacological studies centered on anticraving agents like baclofen. Research on noninvasive brain stimulation, such as rTMS, has shown preliminary usefulness in treating alcohol dependence. Very little research has been conducted regarding alcohol policy.

Conclusion

In the past decade, Indian research on alcohol has focused on diverse areas. Epidemiological and psychological management-related research received maximum attention. Considering the magnitude of the alcohol-related burden, it is essential to prioritize research to other less studied areas like pharmacological management of alcohol dependence and alcohol policy.

Profile of Women Seeking Treatment for Substance Use Disorder in Tertiary Care Government De-Addiction Centre

Background

There is an increasing trend among women using substance. However, very few women seek treatment for substance use disorder in Government de-addiction centre. There is limited literature available regarding the same.

Aim

To examine the profile of women seeking treatment for substance use disorder in Government De-addiction Centre, Bengaluru.

Methods

The study was retrospective in nature. All the female patients who sought in-patient treatment from centre for addiction medicine, NIMHANS, Bengaluru from Apr 2015- Sept 2016 were included in the study. Method of data collection: Content analysis was used to collect the secondary data from the hospital record. Descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency distribution was used for statistical analysis.

Results

Mean age of women who sought treatment for substance use disorder in the centre was 42 ±14 years. The mean age at initiation of alcohol was 27 ±9 years, alcohol dependence was 34 ±10.6 years. Majority (65%) belonged below poverty line. 59% were married and living with their spouse. 55% of them sought treatment either on their own or brought by family members, 38% referred by the psychiatrist. More than one-third (36%) had primary school education. Nearly one-third (27%) of them had repeated admissions more than once. More than one-third of them (34%) were homemakers, nearly one-fourth (24%) of them were lost their previous job, 6% of them students and professionals respectively.

Conclusion

The majority (68%) of women had diagnosis of alcohol dependence, nicotine (44%), benzodiazepine (14%), opioid dependence (11%), cannabis dependence (1.6%), less than 1% had other forms behavioural addictions.

The impact of urbanization on mental health in India

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

India has experienced rapid urbanization in the last few decades. This review focuses on recent research related to the effects of urbanization on mental health with a specific focus on various population groups in urban India.

RECENT FINDINGS

With a specific focus on recent research undertaken amongst special populations such as youth, women and the elderly, the findings demonstrate increasing rates of substance use and technology addiction among youth; high self-harm rates in various groups such as adolescents and women; the effects of violence and abuse on the mental health of women; psychological distress among the elderly in modern urban India.

SUMMARY

The article highlights the direct and indirect effects of urbanization on mental health of various populations and emphasizes the need to develop individual-level and policy-level strategies to manage problems arising out of the same.