Abstract
This study compared pretreatment addiction severity profiles of 339 abusers in three diagnostic groups: cocaine dependence only (CO), cocaine dependence with substance-induced major depression (SIMD), and cocaine dependence with independent major depression (IMD). Depressed subjects reported more severe problems than non-depressed subjects across numerous domains, regardless of diagnostic etiology. These findings support the need for specialized treatment approaches targeting depressive symptoms or life stress for cocaine-dependent patients with IMD or SIMD, though patients with IMD may require additional attention for chronic and comorbid psychiatric and medical problems.
Notes
Some data used in this paper were presented at the Association for the Advancement of Behavioral Therapy's annual meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, November 18–21, 2004.