Psychiatric comorbidity in cocaine users treated in therapeutic community: substance-induced versus independent disorders.

This is a cross-sectional study of 227 cocaine dependent individuals in six different therapeutic communities (TCs) within a single treatment network in Andalusia (Spain). The primary aim of the study is to examine the prevalence of lifetime psychiatric comorbidity in this sample using the Psychiatric Research Interview for Substance and Mental Disorders (PRISM). Diagnoses were assessed 15-20 days after admission. The data indicate that more than 65% of the sample experienced a lifetime co-occurring psychiatric comorbidity. Substance-induced mood (21.6%) and psychotic (11.5%) disorders were more prevalent in this population than independent mood (12.3%) and psychotic (7.5%) disorders. These data suggest the need to introduce changes in these centers, both in the diagnostic aspects and in the treatment programs.