title: Substance dependence and mental health in northern Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Today, substance dependence and illegal trading of narcotics is considered as a global issue. Since mental disorder has been reported in about 90% of the substance dependents, this study aimed at determining the rate of mental health in the substance dependents in Sari Township in 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 500 substance-dependent patients were selected using convenience sampling method. To collect data, SCL-90-R was used for the evaluation of their mental health and a demographic questionnaire was employed for identifying their personal information. The obtained data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics using the SPSS software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was found that 90.4% of the participants were susceptible to mental disorder. Most of them suffered from depression, psychoticism, interpersonal sensitivity, anxiety, and paranoia. Also, there was significant relationship between the mental health of single, divorced and married addicts (P < 0.21).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to the presence of mental disorder in the substance-dependent patients, it is recommended to help treat them by providing them with education, psychotherapy, and psychiatric medication.
authors.forename: Jabbar Heydari
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Fard
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Nasibeh Faculty, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali Heidari
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gorji
authors.forename: Yadollah
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jannati
authors.forename: Iraj
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Golikhatir
authors.forename: Farzad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bozorgi
authors.forename: Rezaali
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mohammadpour
authors.forename: Ali Morad Heidari
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gorji
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult