Assessing The Prevalence And Severity Of Depression In Subject’s Chewing Khat (Chat) By Using Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale

Many people suffering with depression may abuse alcohol or other substances. Despite a few of them become dependent on this substances or drugs. Khat is one of the substance which was classified by WHO in 1980’s as a drug of abuse that can produce mild- to- moderate psychological dependence (less than tobacco or alcohol), long-term abuse of khat may cause or worse depression (Nutt D- 2007). However men or women with depression are more likely to suffer from both substance abuse & substance dependence than are other. The current study will examines the prevalence and severity of depression in people chewing Khat by using Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. This Scale is the most widely used subjective self measure of depression (Zung w- 1965). The present research shows that majority of respondents who are chewing khat are having normal range with no sign of depression, considerable percent of respondents are mildly depressed, and minority percent of respondents are moderately depressed and there are no severely depressed respondents.