Methamphetamine use by incarcerated women: comorbid mood and anxiety problems.
OBJECTIVE
Methamphetamine's (MA) impact on psychiatric functioning is not well understood, especially among women. Efforts to understand MA's impact are complicated by the use of other drugs. The purpose of this study is to untangle the relative contributions of MA versus other drugs on psychiatric symptoms.


METHODS
Incarcerated women (N = 100) completed diagnostic interviews and a symptom measure to establish psychiatric status.


RESULTS
Nearly all women (83%) had lifetime dependence on > or =1 drugs. The most common drug of dependence was MA (67%), followed by alcohol (32%), cannabis (19%), and cocaine (15%). Over half met lifetime criteria for an affective disorder (53%), and nearly half (46%) met lifetime criteria for an anxiety disorder. Lifetime dependence on MA and a nonstimulant drug was related to current psychiatric symptoms and lifetime mood and anxiety disorder. Lifetime mood and anxiety disorders were generally unrelated to recent MA use.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings highlight the impact of MA use on psychiatric presentation among women. Results suggest that MA impacts psychiatric symptoms independent of lifetime psychiatric diagnoses. Of note was the high incidence of drug dependence and mood and anxiety disorders among this sample of incarcerated women from a rural state. Findings imply important treatment implications for women in prison settings.
Vik
Peter W
PW
Department of Psychology, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209-8112, USA. vikpete@isu.edu
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015897:Comorbidity; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007061:Idaho / Q000453:epidemiology; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008694:Methamphetamine