Study of Association of Substance Use Disorders with Family Members' Psychological Disorders.

INTRODUCTION: Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) represents a serious problem in Iranian community that may lead to psychological disorders in families.

AIM: This study was conducted to investigate the association of SUDs with family members' psychological disorders.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample size of the study consisted of 724 people referred to a counseling and psychology clinic in Shahrekord, southwest Iran. For data gathering, random method was adopted. After the relationship was established with the patients during the counseling and their confidence was gained, development of SUDs and related effect on the referred patient's family members were investigated by a pre-developed checklist. The statistical tests used to analyse the data were chi-square, Fisher's exact test, and odds ratio.

RESULTS: The most frequent disorder noted was depression (40.5%) followed by generalized anxiety disorder (21%), minor interpersonal and children's behavioural problems (15%), and hysteria (8%). Depression, hysteria, and minor interpersonal and children's behavioural problems in the women and men were reported 48% vs. 20%, 9% vs. 5%, and 10% vs. 27%, respectively. A significant association was seen between SUDs in the patients' spouses and children as well as in their families, and gender, marital status, and occupation, but not place of residence and education.

CONCLUSION: An association was seen between the psychiatric disorders in the people referring the studied center and SUDs in their families. Addiction in family plays an important role in developing or recurring psychiatric disorders in other family members.