Abstract

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Based on results of the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey–Mental Health, 1.2% of Canadians aged 15 to 64 (an estimated 282,000) experienced mental and substance use disorders concurrently in the previous year (at least one mood/anxiety disorder and one substance use disorder). Demographic, socioeconomic, health status and service use characteristics of the concurrent disorder group were compared with those of people who had only a mood/anxiety disorder or only a substance use disorder. Those with concurrent disorders had consistently poorer psychological health and higher use of health services and were more likely to report partially met/unmet needs than the substance use disorder group, even when demographic and socioeconomic factors and number of chronic health conditions were taken into account. Apparent similarities in health status, service use and partially met/unmet needs between the concurrent disorders and mood/anxiety disorder groups did not persist in multivariate analysis. The findings suggest that the complexity of concurrent disorders contributes to poorer psychological health outcomes and higher health service use, compared with having only a mood/anxiety disorder or a substance use disorder.

Keywords

Anxiety disorder, health status, mental health, mood disorder, service use

Findings

Concurrent disorders, also known as dual diagnosis or dual disorder, typically refer to the simultaneous occurrence of a mental and a substance use disorder. Individuals with concurrent disorders often experience poorer physical health and greater psychological distress than do people with a single disorder. They may also receive less-than-optimal health care. The complex health care needs of this subpopulation can result in long hospital stays, high readmission rates, and increased health care costs. [Full Text]

Authors

Saeeda Khan (saeeda.khan@canada.ca) is with the Health Analysis Division at Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.