Co-occurrence of Axis I and Axis II disorders in substance abusers.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the co-occurrence of anxiety/mood and personality disorders (PDs) in substance abusers, the impact of anxiety/ mood disorders on the symptom profiles of PDs, and the impact of anxiety/mood disorders and PDs on pre-treatment status.


METHODS
Current anxiety/mood disorders and PDs and pre-treatment status were assessed using semi-structured interviews in 370 treated substance abusers.


RESULTS
Anxiety/mood disorders and PDs frequently co-occurred, with the overall pattern of associations being non-specific. The strongest associations were of social phobia with avoidant and schizotypal PD, and of major depression with borderline PD. However, symptom profiles of PDs were not associated with anxiety/mood disorders. Finally, anxiety/mood disorders and PDs were both independently and differentially associated with poor pre-treatment characteristics.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest the clinical importance of obtaining both Axis I and Axis II diagnoses in treated substance abusers, and highlight the distinctiveness of the Axis I and Axis II disorders.
Verheul
R
R
Amsterdam Institute for Addiction Research, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Kranzler
H R
HR
Poling
J
J
Tennen
H
H
Ball
S
S
Rounsaville
B J
BJ
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003237:Connecticut; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*