Family Relationship Dimensions and Repeated Relapse from Substance Use Disorder among Patients at Mental Health Service Centers in Addis Ababa

Abstract

Substance abuse has become one of the most pressing mental health issues. The dramatic increase in drug production and trafficking in recent years has caused a growing number of drug abusers. The purpose of this study was to assess family relationship dimensions and repeated relapse due to substance induced disorder among patients who use substance in Addis Ababa mental health service centers. Questionnaire and key informant interview were used to collect data from participants. Data were collected from seventy patients with substance induced disorder, attending treatment at Ammanuael Specialized Mental Health Hospital, Yeka-kotebe General Mental Health Hospital, and Zewuditu Memorial Hospital. The results indicated high degree of relapse of substance triggered disorder due to their consumption of Khat, Alcohol, and Tobacco. Multiple linear regression results indicated that family relationship dimensions (hostility, emotion over-involvement and perceived criticism) significantly predicted 50.8 % of the variance in repeated relapse of substance related disorder (R2= .508, F = (12, 851) = 3. 565, p< .000. Hostility (β = .352, p= 0.02) and emotional over involvement (β =.406, p= 0.01) were significant predictors of repeated relapse of substance use prompted disorders. This implies that hostility and emotional over involvement are positively associated to relapse of substance use generated disorders. Therefore, psychiatrists, counselors and hospital managers should give due emphasis to the role of family relationship so as to design pertinent intervention strategies.