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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Khat use as risk factor for psychotic disorders: A cross-sectional and case-control study in Somalia
BMC Medicine, Volume 3, Article 5, Year 2005
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Description
Background: Little is known about the prevalence of khat-induced psychotic disorders in East African countries, where the chewing of khat leaves is common. Its main psycho-active component cathinone produces effects similar to those of amphetamine. We aimed to explore the prevalence of psychotic disorders among the general population and the association between khat use and psychotic symptoms. Methods: In an epidemiological household assessment in the city of Hargeisa, North-West Somalia, trained local interviewers screened 4,854 randomly selected persons from among the general population for disability due to severe mental problems. The identified cases were interviewed based on a structured interview and compared to healthy matched controls. Psychotic symptoms were assessed using the items of the WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview and quantified with the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale. Statistical testing included Student's t-test and ANOVA. Results: Local interviewers found that rates of severe disability due to mental disorders were 8.4% among males (above the age of 12) and differed according to war experiences (no war experience: 3.2%; civilian war survivors: 8.0%; ex-combatants: 15.9%). The clinical interview verified that in 83% of positive screening cases psychotic symptoms were the most prominent manifestations of psychiatric illness. On average, cases with psychotic symptoms had started to use khat earlier in life than matched controls and had been using khat 8.6 years before positive symptoms emerged. In most cases with psychotic symptoms, a pattern of binge use (> two 'bundles' per day) preceded the onset of psychotic symptoms, in contrast to controls of the same age. We found significant correlations between variables of khat consumption and clinical scales (0.35 to 0.5; p < 0.05), and between the age of onset of khat chewing and symptom onset (0.70; p <0.001). Conclusion: Evidence indicates a relationship between the consumption of khat and the onset of psychotic symptoms among the male population, whereby not the khat intake per se but rather early onset and excessive khat chewing seemed to be related to psychotic symptoms. The khat problem must be addressed by means other than prohibition, given the widespread use and its role in Somali culture. © 2005 Odenwald et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Odenwald, Michael G.
Germany, Konstanz
Universität Konstanz
Neuner, Frank
Germany, Konstanz
Universität Konstanz
Germany, Konstanz
Psychiat. Landeskrankenh. Reichenau
Schauer, Maggie
Germany, Konstanz
Universität Konstanz
Elbert, Thomas R.
Germany, Konstanz
Universität Konstanz
Germany, Konstanz
Psychiat. Landeskrankenh. Reichenau
Catani, Claudia
Germany, Konstanz
Universität Konstanz
Lingenfelder, Birke
Germany, Konstanz
Universität Konstanz
Hinkel, Harald H.
Democratic Republic Congo, Vientiane
The World Bank
Häfner, Heinz
Germany, Mannheim
Zentralinstitut Für Seelische Gesundheit
Rockstroh, Brigitte
Germany, Konstanz
Universität Konstanz
Germany, Konstanz
Psychiat. Landeskrankenh. Reichenau
Statistics
Citations: 224
Authors: 9
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/1741-7015-3-5
ISSN:
17417015
e-ISSN:
17417015
Research Areas
Disability
Mental Health
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Case-Control Study
Study Locations
Somalia
Participants Gender
Male