Comorbid Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Disorders: Recent Treatment Research

ABSTRACT

Psychiatric comorbidity is defined as the co-occurrence of a psychiatric disorder in a patient with a substance use disorder. Psychiatric disorders in substance abuse patients can antedate the substance use disorder or be a consequence of the substance abuse. There is emerging evidence that drug use in adolescence may alter the onset of certain psychiatric disorders in vulnerable individuals. Patients with concurrent comorbid disorders present special challenges for the substance abuse treatment system in terms of diagnosis and management because each disorder has the capability of exacerbating the other.

This manuscript is a summary of an ISAM symposium that featured three speakers who discussed the following topics:

1. Etiology and treatment of comorbid psychiatric and substance use disorders in adolescents;

2. Treatment of ADHD and substance use disorders in adults;

3. Effects of substance abuse on the onset, severity, and treatment of schizophrenia.

Recommendations for further research will be presented.

KEYWORDS:

• Adolescence
• comorbidity
• depression
• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• schizophrenia

Dr. Green is supported in part by NIH grants DA-13196, AA-014644, MH-62197, and R21 DA-019215. Dr. Green reports grant support, honoraria, or advisory board service for Eli Lilly, Janssen, Bristol Myers, Forest, and AstraZeneca. Dr. Levin is supported in part by NIH grant DA K0200465. Dr. Riggs is supported by NIDA R01 DA 13176 and NIDA U10-DA-1-3716 and also receives honoraria from Shire as a consultant and advisory board member.

Drs. Green, Levin, and Riggs presented at a symposium, chaired by Dr. Vocci, on comorbidity and substance abuse disorders at the VIII International Society of Addiction Medicine Annual Meeting and Scientific Conference, Oporto, Portugal. Each author contributed equally to the development of the article. Dr. Vocci's contribution was part of his official duties.