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Category: Volume 09 Issue 01 January 2021
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Title: A Study on Prevalence of Severity of Anxiety disorders in female spouses of Alcohol Dependence Patients

Authors: Dr Aravindh. M, Dr Asok Kumar. M, Dr Gandhibabu.R

 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v9i1.39

Abstract

The Alcohol use disorders magnitude constitutes about 33% of the population in our country which is considerably given that India has the second largest population in the world. The prevalence of violence among the wives of alcoholics is high. There are studies reporting violence in distinct domains: physical, emotional, intellectual, and economic that in turn leads to anxiety disorders. To study the prevalence of severity of anxiety disorders, 200 female spouses of alcohol dependence patients reported to Rajah Muthiah Medical College and Hospital is assessed with self- innovative proforma and HAM – A Rating scale.

Results: Out of 200 participants, 31.5% had HAM A score between 16 and 20 followed by 24% between 11 and 15. The mean HAM A score was 15.23 ± 6.49. Resulting in 56 (28%) participants had moderate anxiety, 55(27.5%) had mild anxiety and 18 (9%) had severe anxiety. Total of 130 (65%) participants had been diagnosed with various severities of anxiety disorders.

Conclusion: Psychiatric disorders were prevalent amongst female spouses of alcoholic patients. HAM -A scores showed the burden stress towards female spouses due to alcoholic husbands. Therefore, routine screening of female spouses will aid early diagnosis of psychiatric disorders and enable timely psychological intervention.

Keywords: alcohol dependence, stress, early diagnosis.

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Corresponding Author

Dr Aravindh. M

Postgraduate, Department of Psychiatry, Rajah Muthiah Medical College and Hospital, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamilnadu