Abstinence Symptomatology and Psychiatric Diagnosis in Cocaine Abusers

TLDR

Abstinence symptoms and psychiatric diagnoses were evaluated in 30 chronic cocaine abusers using structured diagnostic interviews designed to distinguish enduring symptoms from binge‑related ones. Longitudinal data revealed a three‑phase abstinence symptom sequence, with over half the participants meeting DSM‑III axis I psychiatric disorder criteria, highlighting implications for treatment design.

Abstract

• Abstinence symptoms and psychiatric diagnoses were evaluated in 30 chronic cocaine abusers. Structured diagnostic interviews were done within an experimental design intended to maximize differentiation of enduring symptoms from symptoms linked to binges of cocaine use. Longitudinal evaluations showed a three-phase sequence of post—cocaine abuse abstinence symptoms. Over half the sample also met criteria for ed 3<i>DSM-III</i>, axis I psychiatric disorders. The findings present specific implications for treatment design.