Pattern of Comorbid Substance Abuse in Patients of Depression

This study explores the comorbidity of substance abuse among patients attending a Psychiatric Outpatient Department. The research focused on a sample of 100 individuals diagnosed with depression, drawn from four different clinics within the Muzaffarnagar District. The sample was evenly divided, with 50 respondents experiencing substance abuse and 50 without any history of substance abuse. To assess the severity of depression, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS)—also known as the Hamilton Depression Scale (HDS) or simply the Hamilton Scale—was employed. This scale, developed by Dr. Max Hamilton in 1960, is a widely recognized instrument for evaluating the intensity of depressive symptoms and is extensively used in both clinical and research contexts. For the screening of substance abuse, the World Health Organization's Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (WHO ASSIST) questionnaire was utilized. This tool, developed by WHO, is designed to detect substance use and associated problems. The findings of the study are : • There were three types of comorbid Substance Abuse in patients of Depression and those are Alcohol , Tobacco and Cannabis • Respondents with Substance Abuse have more severe depression than respondents without Substance Abuse • And these findings are presented with frequency and percentages, and they are supported by relevant research.