Abstract

GUIMARAES, Cristian Fabiano; SANTOS, Daniela Vender Vieira dos; FREITAS, Rodrigo Cavalari de  and  ARAUJO, Renata Brasil. Profile of crack users and factors related to criminality at the detoxication ward at Hospital Psiquiátrico São Pedro, Porto Alegre, Brazil. Rev. psiquiatr. Rio Gd. Sul [online]. 2008, vol.30, n.2, pp. 101-108. ISSN 0101-8108.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0101-81082008000300005.

INTRODUCTION: This cross-sectional study was carried out with 30 crack users admitted at the male detoxication ward at Hospital Psiquiátrico São Pedro, in Porto Alegre, Brazil, from March to December, 2007. The objective of the present study was to identify the sociodemographic and psychoactive consumption profile of crack users and presence of antisocial behavior, anxiety and depression symptoms in patients admitted at the male detoxication ward at Hospital Psiquiátrico São Pedro, in Porto Alegre, Brazil. METHOD: Thirty crack users participated in the study, and the instruments used were a 55-item sociodemographic questionnaire to evaluate psychoactive substance consumption and presence of criminal records, Mental State Mini Exam, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence and Visual Analog Scales for Craving. RESULTS: The main results led to a population of Caucasian young adults, mean age of 27.3 years, underemployed or unemployed. Presence of criminal records was observed in 40% of the sample and was associated with greater craving (U = 58.00; p = 0.035), more anxiety symptoms (U = 56.50; p =0.028) and depression (U = 47.00; p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Presence of criminal records was frequent for crack users and this variable was related to more anxiety, depression and craving. Studies of this kind can enhance knowledge of the study population, in order to design a more effective therapeutic plan for these patients.

Keywords : Cocaine; crack; crime; men; hospitalization units; drug effects.