Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety and Stress in Drug Users undergoing Treatment in Therapeutic Communities

Abstract Symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress may interfere negatively in the progress of treatment of substance abusers. This study aimed to evaluate the levels of depression, anxiety and stress in men and women undergoing treatment for substance use disorder in therapeutic communities, relating such levels with the type of substance used and sociodemographic data. We used a Sociodemographic and Drug Use Data Questionnaire and the DASS-21. Participants included 115 men and 53 women on treatment (M=32 years; SD=8.7). Most were users of tobacco and crack, the latter associated with women. Tobacco and other drug users who were unemployed were associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms in the DASS-21. The results do not allow a causal relationship between the variables, but highlight the relevance of including in the treatments, strategies for smoking cessation and professional reintegration. Such strategies may help to reduce the symptoms evaluated by the DASS-21, improving living conditions for coping with substance use disorders.

摘要：抑郁、焦虑与压力症状可对物质使用障碍患者的治疗进程产生负面影响。本研究旨在评估治疗社区内接受物质使用障碍治疗的男性与女性群体的抑郁、焦虑及压力水平，并将此类水平与所使用的物质类型及社会人口学资料进行关联分析。研究采用《社会人口学与药物使用情况调查问卷》以及抑郁焦虑压力量表21项版（DASS-21）开展数据采集。本研究共纳入168名接受治疗的物质使用障碍患者，其中男性115例、女性53例，平均年龄32岁（标准差SD=8.7）。受试者中多数为烟草与快克可卡因使用者，其中快克可卡因使用者以女性居多。失业的烟草及其他药物使用者，其DASS-21量表评分所反映的抑郁、焦虑与压力症状水平显著更高。本研究结果无法确立各变量间的因果关系，但凸显了在治疗方案中纳入戒烟策略与职业重返社会方案的重要性。此类策略或可降低DASS-21量表所评估的症状水平，改善物质使用障碍患者应对疾病的生活状况。