Perceived Stress, Depression and Anxiety in the Spouses of Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a significant public health issue in India, where alcohol consumption is discouraged but often practiced excessively. In our country, with an emphasis on the family system, the spouses of individuals with alcohol dependence are also affected in many ways. The patients and their spouses are bound to affect each other, as spouses are usually the primary caregivers. Aim: To study the impact of AUD on the spouses of affected individuals, focusing on perceived stress, depression and anxiety. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 spouses of patients with AUD who visited the Psychiatry Outpatient Department (OPD) the Department of Psychiatry, ACS Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, a tertiary hospital in the Chennai suburban area over a period of two months. Data were collected between November 2021 and December 2021 using a socio-demographic proforma to record age, education, employment and the ages of children, among other factors. Assessment tools used included the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) for assessing depression, anxiety and stress, respectively. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 software. Independent t-tests and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used for comparison. Results: The average age of the participants was 42.1 +/- 11.7 years, with moderate variability. Most participants were educated (81%), employed (84%) and residing in nuclear families (76%). The study revealed moderate levels of perceived stress (24.2), variable anxiety (19.2) and varying degrees of depression (16.4) among the spouses. Employed individuals had significantly lower anxiety and depression scores compared to non employed individuals. The correlations indicated positive associations between stress, anxiety and depression. Anxiety was positively correlated with the ages of male children (r=0.244, p=0.016) and female children (r=0.363, p=0.002). Similarly, depression was correlated with the ages of male children (r=0.258, p=0.011) and female children (r=0.292, p=0.014). Conclusion: The present study underscores the substantial impact of AUD on spouses, highlighting notable levels of stress, anxiety and depression. Employment status has emerged as crucial factor influencing mental health outcomes.