WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Sreejamol M. G.*, Neethu Peter and Nileena C. Suresh

ABSTRACT

Background & objective: Alcoholism is a chronic behavioral disorder manifested by repeated drinking of alcohol beverages. The problem of alcoholism is not just related to alcoholics also the life of those who around them are adversely affected especially the wives. Objective of the study was to assess the co-dependency and depressive symptoms of wives of alcoholics. Methods: It is a descriptive study conducted among 100 wives of alcoholics in selected wards of Nayarambalam Panchayath, Kochi. Subjects were selected by using convenience sampling technique. Informed consent was taken from all the participants. The co- dependency and depression among wives were assessed using Spann-Fischer co- dependency assessment tool and Beck?s Depression Inventory respectively. Results: Majority (70%) of the subjects belongs to the age group of 35-45 years. The results shows 63% of the wives had severe co dependency and only few reported (3%) to have mild co dependency rest of them had moderate (34%) level of co dependency. Only 3% of wives of alcoholics had extreme depression and few had severe depression(17%) .Mild mood disturbance and borderline clinical depression were observed among 21% and 14% of subjects respectively. One third of the subjects (35%) had moderate depression and 10% were free from depressive symptoms. There is a statistically significant positive correlation between co-dependency and depressive symptoms (r=0.382, p= <0.001) Conclusion: Many of the wives suffer from various physical and psychological problems due to their husband?s alcohol dependence and needs immediate care.