Comorbid psychiatric disorders in substance dependence patients: A control study

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the comorbidity of mental disorders among a random sample of substance dependence patients from a psychiatric inpatients department and the general population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Comprehensive data was collected from inpatients with substance abuse/dependence and comorbidity of mental disorders at the Ranchi Institute of Neuropsychiatry and Allied Sciences (RINPAS) and from normal controls from the general population during the period January 2007 to May 2007. RESULTS: The results show that the most prevalent comorbid disorders in substance dependence patients and substance abusers were depressive disorders. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of substance dependence patients suffered from comorbid mental disorders. Comorbidity needs to be taken into account when analyzing the relationship between substance dependence and depression and in planning treatment strategies for comorbid conditions.