Examining the link between psychological distress, mental health disorders and sharing behaviors among cocaine users. (November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lévesque, Annie; Roy, Élise; Jutras-Aswad, Didier; Zang, Geng; Artenie, Andreea Adelina; Bruneau, Julie
• Is Part Of: Addictive behaviors. Volume 62(2016)
• Page Start: 54
• Page End: 59
• Publication Date: 2016-11
• Subjects: Mental health -- Psychological distress -- Anxiety disorder -- Cocaine -- Injection -- Needle sharing; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Drug addiction -- Periodicals; Nicotine addiction -- Periodicals; Smoking -- Periodicals; Gambling -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 362.29
• DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.06.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4603

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Psychiatric problems and cocaine use are associated with heightened vulnerability for HIV and Hepatitis C infections. Little is known regarding the relationship between psychiatric symptoms, psychiatric diagnoses and injection risk behaviors among cocaine users. We examined the association between psychological distress and injection material sharing among cocaine users, while accounting for comorbid anxious and mood disorders. Methods: Participants included cocaine users who inject drugs recruited in a prospective cohort study in Montreal, Canada. Diagnosis of mood and anxiety disorders in the year preceding baseline were established using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) questionnaire. Psychological distress based on the Kessler scale and injection material sharing in the past 3 months were assessed at baseline and at each of the five follow-up visits at 3-month intervals. Statistical analyses were conducted using generalized estimation equation. Results: Of the 387 participants (84.5% male; 80.1%, ≥ 30 y.o.), 35% reported severe psychological distress, 43% qualified for an anxiety disorder diagnosis and 29% for a mood disorder diagnosis at baseline. Psychological distress was not associated with any injection risk behavior when adjusting for socio-demographic and psychiatric disorders. Participants with anxiety disorders were more likely to share needle (adjusted odds ratio: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.17–3.03). Sharing of injection material other than needle was not associated with psychiatric disorders or with psychological distress in multivariate analyses. Conclusions: Anxiety disorders are associated with needle sharing among cocaine users. Our results suggest the importance of screening for anxiety disorders as part of preventive interventions to decrease blood-borne viruses' transmission. Highlights: Participants to this study were cocaine users who inject drugs. We examined the link between psychological distress, psychiatric disorders and sharing behaviors. Participants with anxiety disorders were more likely to share needle. Psychological distress and mood disorders were not associated with sharing practices.