Drug-Dependent Individuals Had High Rates of Multiple Psychiatric Disorders, With Significant Race and Gender Differences
Among drug treatment patients, 64% had alcohol dependence, 44% had antisocial personality disorder, and 24% had major depression, with Caucasians and males showing higher rates of cannabis dependence while women had higher rates of depression and anxiety.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Researchers interviewed drug-dependent individuals in treatment using a structured diagnostic tool. The rates of co-occurring psychiatric disorders were striking.
Lifetime prevalence rates included: alcohol dependence (64%), antisocial personality disorder (44%), phobic disorders (39%), major depression (24%), dysthymia (12%), and generalized anxiety disorder (10%). These rates far exceeded general population prevalences.
Race and gender differences were significant. Caucasians had higher rates of cannabis, alcohol, hallucinogen, opiate, and sedative dependence, plus higher rates of depression, dysthymia, and anxiety compared to African-Americans. Men had higher cannabis dependence rates than women, while women had higher rates of depression, dysthymia, panic, and OCD.
The racial differences in treatment populations contrasted with community surveys, suggesting differential treatment-seeking patterns rather than true prevalence differences.
Key Numbers
Alcohol dependence: 64%. ASPD: 44%. Phobic disorders: 39%. Major depression: 24%. Dysthymia: 12%. GAD: 10%. Caucasians and males had higher cannabis dependence rates.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional diagnostic study using the NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule to assess DSM-III-R disorders in drug treatment patients. Stratified by race and gender.
Why This Research Matters
This study documented the extensive psychiatric comorbidity among cannabis and other drug-dependent individuals, showing that substance use disorders rarely exist in isolation. The racial differences in treatment populations versus community surveys highlighted important disparities in access to or willingness to seek treatment.
The Bigger Picture
The high rates of co-occurring disorders established that effective treatment for cannabis and other drug dependencies must address psychiatric comorbidities simultaneously. The racial disparities in treatment populations versus community samples remain an important health equity issue.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Treatment-seeking populations may not represent all drug-dependent individuals. Race was used as a category, which may oversimplify complex social and cultural factors. DSM-III-R criteria are now outdated. The cross-sectional design cannot determine which conditions preceded which.
Questions This Raises
- ?Why do Caucasians and African-Americans show different treatment-seeking patterns?
- ?Would treating the underlying psychiatric disorders improve substance use outcomes?
- ?How do current DSM-5 criteria change these prevalence estimates?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 64% of drug-dependent treatment patients also had alcohol dependence
- Evidence Grade:
- A well-structured diagnostic study using standardized instruments. Good methodology but limited to treatment-seeking populations, which may not represent all affected individuals.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2000 using DSM-III-R criteria. Diagnostic criteria have been updated to DSM-5, which may produce different prevalence estimates.
- Original Title:
- Substance dependence and other psychiatric disorders among drug dependent subjects: race and gender correlates.
- Published In:
- The American journal on addictions, 9(2), 113-25 (2000)
- Authors:
- Compton, W M, Cottler, L B, Ben Abdallah, A, Phelps, D L, Spitznagel, E L, Horton, J C
- Database ID:
- RTHC-00091
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Do people with cannabis problems usually have other disorders?
Very often, yes. This study found extremely high rates of co-occurring alcohol dependence, antisocial personality, depression, and anxiety among drug-dependent individuals in treatment.
Were there gender differences?
Yes. Men had higher rates of cannabis dependence, while women had higher rates of depression, dysthymia, panic disorder, and OCD.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-00091APA
Compton, W M; Cottler, L B; Ben Abdallah, A; Phelps, D L; Spitznagel, E L; Horton, J C. (2000). Substance dependence and other psychiatric disorders among drug dependent subjects: race and gender correlates.. The American journal on addictions, 9(2), 113-25.
MLA
Compton, W M, et al. "Substance dependence and other psychiatric disorders among drug dependent subjects: race and gender correlates.." The American journal on addictions, 2000.
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Substance dependence and other psychiatric disorders among d..." RTHC-00091. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/compton-2000-substance-dependence-and-other
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.