Prevalence of Undiagnosed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among In-Patients in a Substance Use Disorder Treatment Centre in Nigeria

Abstract

Post traumatic stress disorder is a clinical disorder characterized by emotional and physical symptoms that may occur after exposure to a severely traumatic event. It occurs commonly as a co-morbid diagnosis with substance related disorders, as well as other psychiatric disorders.  We postulated that post traumatic stress disorder may be under- diagnosed in therapeutic wards where substance use disorders are treated. This study thus sought to determine the prevalence of undiagnosed post traumatic stress disorder   in a substance use disorder in-patient population. The posttraumatic stress disorder check list, Civilian version was administered to patients on admission at the Center for addiction treatment and research, Vom, Plateau state, Nigeria in June 2017. Socio-demographic data and information regarding substance use were also obtained from the patients. A total of 38 in-patients were analyzed and 8 (21%) met the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (fourth edition) criteria for current post traumatic stress disorder. None of the patients had a diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder   in their case notes prior to the post traumatic stress disorder check list administration in this study. Post traumatic stress disorder which is frequently co-morbid with substance abuse remains undiagnosed in many patients admitted to our therapeutic center.