title: Polydrug dependence and psychiatric comorbidity among heroin injectors.
abstract: The prevalence of diagnoses of substance dependence, anxiety disorders and depressive disorders were estimated in a sample of 222 heroin injectors, using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Subjects had a median of three lifetime substance diagnoses and two current diagnoses. A total of 60% met the criteria for a lifetime anxiety disorder, and 51% had a current anxiety disorder. A depressive disorder was diagnosed in 41% of subjects, with 30% having a current diagnosis. There were significant positive correlations between the number of lifetime drug dependence diagnoses and the number of lifetime anxiety and affective disorders (r = 0.41), and the number of current drug dependence diagnoses and the number of current comorbid diagnoses (r = 0.32). After controlling for other variables, the only significant independent predictor of the number of lifetime and current dependence diagnoses was the number of comorbid diagnoses.
authors.affiliation: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Darke
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ross
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D009294:Narcotics; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics