Psychiatric comorbidity in opiate addicts

The present study investigates whether a correlation exists between mental symptoms and opiate dependency. During a 5-year follow-up study in Hamburg, of 350 opiate addicts who were in contact with the help system at the time of the initial investigation, 219 (63%) could be interviewed three times at 1-year intervals. The investigation instruments were standardized questionnaires such as EuropASI, CIDI,SCL-90-R and BDI. The general life situation of the investigated persons had, on the whole, improved in the course of the last 2-3 years. Drug consumption had markedly decreased. One third of the opiate addicts were in a comparatively good mental condition on all three survey interviews, for 17% there was a worsening of the condition, and for an other 17% the negative mental condition was reinforced. A correlation can be established between mental disorders/symptoms and drug addiction or drug-related problems. The more unfavorable the course of the mental symptoms, the greater the problems of the client's current life situation. There is also an overall relationship between increased drug consumption and mental symptoms like depressivity and anxiety, and the psychosocial functioning level. However, the expected correlations between mental disorders and the extent of drug consumption are not very marked. This indicates that specific constellations of drug consumption and mental disorders are not isolated but are related, as elements of a complex behavioral pat tern, to the development of other life areas of the client.