effects of chewing QAT leaves on psychotic patients

ABSTRACT

Chewing leaves of the Qat plant [Catha edulis] for their pleasurable central stimulant effect is a habit widespread in the Yemen and certain areas of East Africa. Their use is believed to Cause a variety of central nervous system [CNS] complaints /symptoms. We studied the effects of chewing Qat leaves on psychotic patients. 65 male psychiatric in-patients were recruited in this study. 40 of them were regular Qat chewers and 25 were rare chewers. Also, for purpose of comparison 50 age and weight matched healthy subjects 25 regular and 25 rare Qat chewers, as controls, were included in the study. They were interviewed using a structured questionnaire for assessing the effects of chewing Qat leaves. The study revealed that the prevalence of mood changes in the form of anxiety and/or depression, aggressive and / or hyperactivity behaviour, delusion symptoms and auditory hallucination were significantly higher [P<0.0l] among psychotic patients either regular or rare Qat chewers than those in regular and rare Qat chewing control subjects. This study confirms that Qat chewing can induce elevated mood, aggressive behaviour, delusions and auditory hallucination symptoms among psychotic patients who chew Qat leaves resulting in treatment difficulties. These effects are believed to be caused by the central effects of cathinone in Qat leaves, which is known to have amphetamine like effects