Prevalence of Depressive Disorders in Heroin Dependants

Abstract

This study was conducted to find out the prevalence of depressive disorders among the heroin dependants. Sample comprised of fifty patients admitted in drug treatment and rehabilitation center at Psychiatry departmetn of Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar between March 1997 to August 1997. DSM-IV diagnostic crteria were applied to diagnose substance dependance and associated depressive disorders, while Hamilton depression rating scale was used to assess severity of depression. Major depression was found in about 30% of the sample with varying degrees of severity. overall the findings in this study lends support to the hypothesis that there is substantial depressive disorders amongst the heroin dependants in out population.