Use of psychoactive substances and health care in response to anxiety and depressive disorders.
OBJECTIVE
The use of psychoactive substances in response to psychological distress is not well documented in the general population and has never been studied in combination with health care use. This study estimated the frequency of health care and substance use in response to anxiety or depressive disorders and determined factors associated with these behaviors.


METHODS
From a large survey of adults from four French regions, the authors selected those with a 12-month probable anxiety or depressive disorder without a substance use disorder (N=4,071). These disorders were determined with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short Form, and participants were asked whether they used substances or health care in response to each disorder.


RESULTS
The use of substances in response to anxiety or depressive disorders was 12.9% among men and 5.2% among women. Compared with those who used health care only, those who used substances (with or without health care) were more likely to be men, single, and young. Those who used both substances and health care were also less likely to have a depressive disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that a sizeable portion of the general population uses substances in response to anxiety or depressive disorders. It also shows that these substance users have distinctive sociodemographic characteristics and can thus be targeted by prevention programs. Strategies to reach substance users with depressive or anxiety disorders who do not use health care remain to be elaborated.
Encrenaz
Gaëlle
G
Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Bordeaux, France. gaelle.encrenaz@isped.u-bordeaux2.fr
Kovess-Masféty
Viviane
V
Jutand
Marthe-Aline
MA
Carmona
Elodie
E
Sapinho
David
D
Messiah
Antoine
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs