Abstract
Background: Captagon use disorder represents one of the most serious substance abuse problems in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, with a few published data on the subject. Our objective is to describe the socio-demographic characteristics and patterns of use of Captagon users visiting Alamal Mental Health Complex in Almadinah.
Patients and Methods: a retrospective descriptive study of 98 patients, visiting the emergency and general psychiatry outpatient services of Alamal Complex between September 2016 and May 2017 and identified as having a substance use disorder with Captagon as the main substance of use. Information was taken from patients' records and if necessary, completed by a direct interview with the patient.
Main Outcome Measures: Descriptive epidemiology and statistical comparisons.
Results: Mean age was 33.2 (8.7) years, with basic education (87.7%), low and moderate income 95.9%, and only 30.6% were married. Mean age of initiation to Captagon use was 22.8 (7.2) years. Main daily Captagon's dose was 4.0 (3.9) tablets, on a continuous pattern (71.4%). The mean time from the beginning of Captagon use to the first manifestation of psychotic symptoms was 4.7 (4.3) years. The family history of substance use was found in only 3.1%, while the family history of psychiatric disorders was found in 20.4%. The risk of using cannabis or alcohol in addition to Captagon was significantly increased among stable work cases where it was increased 3.5 times compared to non-working cases (OR=3.5; 95% CI=1.10-11.7). Substance-induced psychosis and co-occurring disorders were present with 57.1% and 25.5% respectively, while isolated substance use disorders were found only in 17% of cases.
Conclusion: There was a significant statistical association between having a stable work and having a Poly-substance use in addition to a remarkable lack of family history of substance abuse in the sample studied. This shed light on the need for prospective and retrospective studies to understand the specific cultural nuances of substance use in the Kingdom.