Posttraumatic stress disorder among Hispanic and African-American drug users.
BACKGROUND
Treating high-risk substance abusers who are members of minority groups may require varied protocols depending on differences among minority groups.


OBJECTIVE
To explore cocaine abuse (CA)/ dependence with physiological dependence (CDPD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis differences between out-of-treatment Hispanic and African American adults, in order to identify cultural differences in how experiences and attitudes affect cocaine use behaviors.


METHODS
This study uses data collected between February and November 2000, as part of a three-year longitudinal study. A cohort of 347 out-of-treatment, Hispanic and African American cocaine-using adults from the Houston metropolitan area were interviewed to measure differences between cocaine users who are dually diagnosed and those that are not.


METHODS
Meeting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. criteria for dual diagnoses of CA/PTSD or CDPD/PTSD.


RESULTS
For the dual diagnoses categories, 102 (29%) participants met the requirements for CA/PTSD or CDPD/PTSD. Logistic regression models were used, with CA/PTSD and CDPD/PTSD as the dependent variables. Age, race, gender, and income were used as the independent variables. Results indicate that individuals with higher income have a greater probability of developing CA/PTSD (beta = 0.919, p < 0.05). For both dual diagnoses categories of CA/PTSD and CDPD/ PTSD, results indicate that being female increases the likelihood of developing both of these dual diagnoses, (beta = 2.106, p < 0.05) or (beta = 2.510, p < 0.05). However, being an older female decreases the probability that an individual would develop these dual diagnoses (beta = -2.227, p < 0.05) (beta = -2.577, p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
No differences were found for race/ethnicity among the dually diagnosed Hispanics and African Americans, however, gender differences were found. Being female increases an individual's probability of developing a dual diagnosis of CA/PTSD or CDPD/PTSD. In addition to being female, being a young female further increases an individual's probability of being dually diagnosed.
Montoya
Isaac D
ID
Affiliated Systems Corporation, Houston, Texas 77027, USA. imontoya@affiliatedsystem.com
Covarrubias
Laura D
LD
Patek
Janeene A
JA
Graves
Jason A
JA
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology