Relationship between anxiety and addiction to a depressant drug.

A systematic random sample of 267 patients who were involved in outpatient detoxification was surveyed. Their records were evaluated, and the demographics, psychiatric diagnoses, and type(s) of substance of abuse of each patient were recorded. The results indicated that there was a significant relationship between an anxiety disorder and whether the patient was addicted to an opioid. A followup was conducted on 79 patients who were addicted to an opioid, and had an anxiety diagnosis. Of this group, 54 (70%) responded, of which only 22 (40%) said that they were receiving some type of treatment for their disorder. All of these patients reported that they were sober and that their anxiety disorder significantly decreased.