Inpatient physicians and nurses with dual diagnosis: an exploratory study

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Addiction Medicine
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Dual diagnosis, the co-occurrence of substance use disorders and mental health disorders, presents unique challenges in healthcare professionals.
• Understanding the clinical features of dual diagnosis in physicians and nurses is crucial for targeted interventions and support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the clinical characteristics of physicians and nurses diagnosed with both substance use and mental health disorders.
• To identify common patterns and differences in dual diagnosis presentation between physicians and nurses.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of 150 inpatient medical records (120 physicians, 30 nurses) from February 2008 to February 2011.
• Utilized the Spanish version of the Psychiatric Research Interview for Substance and Mental Disorders (PRISM-IV) and clinical interviews for data collection.

Main Results:

• The study population (mean age 48.59 years, 57.3% male) primarily presented with alcohol dependence (74.7%), followed by sedatives (39.3%) and cocaine (16%).
• Major depressive disorder (28%) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (8%) were the most common mental health comorbidities. Nicotine dependence was highly prevalent in both physicians (79.2%) and nurses (83.3%).
• Alcohol dependence and major depressive disorder were the most frequent comorbidities. No significant differences in the prevalence of substance use disorders, mental health disorders, or dual diagnosis were observed between physicians and nurses.

Conclusions:

• Dual diagnosis is a prevalent condition among physicians and nurses admitted for substance use disorders.
• The clinical presentation of dual diagnosis appears consistent across both physician and nurse patient groups.