The validity of self-reported drug use in non-treatment seeking individuals with cocaine dependence: correlation with biochemical assays.
Accurate estimate of drug exposure plays an important role in studies of the neurobiology of drug dependence. The validity of self-reported drug use by subjects participating in such studies has not been well established. This study examined the relationship between self-reported drug use and biological markers in 18 non-treatment-seeking cocaine-dependent individuals participating in research on the effects of cocaine on the brain. A significant relationship was found between self-reported frequency of cocaine use and hair cocaine concentration. Frequency of alcohol use correlated significantly with plasma carbohydrate-deficient transferrin and aspartate aminotransferase levels. These results suggest that self-reported substance use in non-treatment seeking research subjects is generally valid.
Elman
I
I
Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114, USA. Elman.Igor@mgh.harvard.edu
Krause
S
S
Breiter
H C
HC
Gollub
R L
RL
Heintges
J
J
Baumgartner
W A
WA
Rosen
B R
BR
Gastfriend
D R
DR
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014342:Truth Disclosure
D015415:Biomarkers