Dataset Information

Exploring the association between khat use and psychiatric symptoms: a systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Consumption of the drug khat is high across East Africa and the South-Western Arabian Peninsula despite evidence for its adverse psychiatric effects. This systematic review aims to explore cross-sectional research in the field to determine the strength of the association between khat use and psychiatric symptoms METHODS: Six databases were searched in October 2021-Ovid Medline, Embase, APA PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus and Proquest-using the following search terms: "khat" OR "qat" OR "qaad" OR "catha" OR "miraa" OR "mairungi" AND "depression" OR "anxiety" OR "mania" OR "psych*" OR "schiz*" OR "mental" OR "hallucinations" OR "delusions" OR "bipolar". Eligible studies were cross-sectional studies of any population or setting comparing the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms in long term or dependent khat users with non-users. The quality of each study was appraised by the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. A meta-analysis was planned using a random effects model to produce an OR with 95% CIs-using the Mantel-Haenszel method-alongside an I² statistic to represent heterogeneity. The quality of this meta-analysis was appraised using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) scoring system.

Results

35 studies were eligible for inclusion (total participants=31 893), spanning 5 countries (Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, UK). Meta-analysis suggests that khat use is associated with an 122% increased prevalence of psychiatric symptoms (OR 2.22, 95% CIs 1.76 to 2.79, p<0.00001, GRADE score: 'very low').

Conclusions

The high heterogeneity of the meta-analysis is likely due to the wide variation between the studies within the evidence base. To perform a more accurate systematic review, further primary studies are needed with standardised measurements of variables, particularly khat consumption.

Prospero registration number

CRD42020224510.

SUBMITTER: Edwards B

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9328084 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Exploring the association between khat use and psychiatric symptoms: a systematic review.

Edwards Betsy B Atkins Naomi N

BMJ open 20220725 7

<h4>Objectives</h4>Consumption of the drug khat is high across East Africa and the South-Western Arabian Peninsula despite evidence for its adverse psychiatric effects. This systematic review aims to explore cross-sectional research in the field to determine the strength of the association between khat use and psychiatric symptoms METHODS: Six databases were searched in October 2021-Ovid Medline, Embase, APA PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus and Proquest-using the following search terms: "khat" OR "qat" ...[more]

PMID: 35879018

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Dataset Information

Exploring the association between khat use and psychiatric symptoms: a systematic review.

Objectives

Results

Conclusions

Prospero registration number

Publications

Exploring the association between khat use and psychiatric symptoms: a systematic review.

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