DSM-IV Axis-I comorbidity among illicit drug users seeking treatment for substance use disorders: results from the Multi-centre Study of Psychiatric Comorbidity in Drug Addicts (MUPCDA)

Background: To contribute to the discussion on Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment in persons seeking treatment for substance use disorders and carrying a substance dependence diagnosis. Aims: To capture current (4 weeks) DSM-IV Axis-I comorbidity in a sample of German in-treatment substance use disorders patients. Method: A clinical sample of n = 301 patients (75% male, 25% female; mean age 31 years, range 15–55 years) were interviewed face-to-face by 40 raters, using the Mini-DIPS (German version of the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule). In this multi-centre study, 19 German treatment centres participated. Results: Diagnoses for opioid dependence were given to 86% and for polydrug dependence to 75% of the patients. Socio-demographic data revealed high unemployment, indebtedness and crime rates. Most frequent diagnoses of comorbidity were: generalized anxiety disorder (28%) and dysthymia (26%). Women were more likely to be dually diagnosed and to report lifetime substance-induced visual hallucination...