Co-occurrence of post-traumatic stress disorder and substance use disorder among out patients in a Nigerian general hospital

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the prevalence and relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol and other substance use disorders in a clinical population in Nigeria, a low- and middle-income (LAMI) country. There exists evidence that PTSD increases vulnerability to both the onset and persistence of substance misuse and often complicates treatment outcomes, though there is data paucity in LAMI countries. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional study was conducted among 285 patients attending the outpatient clinics of Karu General Hospital over a seven-month period. Participants were selected using systematic random sampling. Data were collected using a socio-demographic questionnaire and the PTSD, alcohol use disorder (AUD) and substance use disorder modules of the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Findings PTSD was diagnosed in 40 participants, representing a prevalence of 14%, although only 1.4% had been previously identified with the condition. Non-alcohol substance use disorder was highly prevalent (88.1%), while AUD was present in 22.5% of participants. Participants diagnosed with AUD were almost three times more likely to have PTSD compared with those without AUD [odds ratio (OR): 2.74, 95% confidence level [CI]: 1.25–5.83; p < 0.001]. Similarly, participants with other substance use disorders (SUDs) were over three times more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD than those without such disorders (OR: 3.38, 95% CI: 1.34–8.02; p < 0.01). Originality/value The results contribute to the sparse evidence regarding comorbidity between PTSD and SUDs in LAMI countries.