Identifying Europe’s information needs for effective drug policy
Lisbon, 6-8 May 2009
Parallel sessions: Practice
Parallel session A. Treatment and harm reduction, needs for more tailored interventions
Title of the presentation: Addressing psychosocial needs
Name: Marta Torrens
Affiliation/Institution: : Institute of Psychiatry and Addiction-Hospital del Mar
Address: Passeig Maritim 25-29 Barcelona 08003 Spain
e-mail: mtorrens@imas.imim.es
Bio note:
Director of the Addiction Unit at the Institute of Psychiatry and Addictions-Hospital del Mar
and Associate Professor of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine at the Universitat Autònoma
de Barcelona. Her clinical and research activity has been focused in clinical and
pharmacological approaches of drug dependence and psychiatric comorbidity.
Abstract:
The high frequency of co-occurrence of substance abuse and other psychiatric disorders
documented in different clinical and epidemiologic studies is a matter of great concern
because of its relevant diagnostic and therapeutic implications. This co-occurrence, also
known as ‘psychiatric comorbidity in drug abusers’ has been associated with poor outcome of
subjects affected.
In comparison with patients with a single disorder, substance abusers with other psychiatric
comorbid disorders show a higher psychopathological severity, more emergency room
attendances, significantly increased rates of psychiatric hospitalization, and a higher
prevalence of suicide. In addition, comorbid drug abusers show an increased rate of risk
behaviors and related infections, (such as HIV and hepatitis C virus infection) as well as
childhood and adult physical and sexual abuse, and psychosocial impairments, such as
higher unemployment and homelessness rates and a great amount of violent or criminal
behavior. Furthermore, the co-occurrence of a psychiatric disorder at entry to treatment for
substance use predicts worse substance use outcomes.
It is therefore crucial to detect the co-occurrence of psychiatric comorbidity among substance
abusers, to provide effective therapeutic strategies, both pharmacological and psychological,
by trained health professionals in adequate health services.
Related publications:
Aharonovich E, Liu X, Nunes E, Hasin DS. Suicide attempts in substance abusers: effects of
major depression in relation to substance use disorders. Am J Psychiatry 2002; 159:16001602.
Flynn PK, Brown BS. Co-occurring disorders in substance abuse treatments: Issues and
prospects. J Subst Abuse Treat 2008; 34: 36-47.
Herrero MJ, Domingo-Salvany A, Torrens M, Brugal MT; ITINERE Investigators. Psychiatric
comorbidity in young cocaine users: induced versus independent disorders. Addiction. 2008;
103:284-93.
King VL, Kidorf MS, Stoller KB, Brooner RK. Influence of psychiatric comorbidity on HIV risk
behaviors: changes during drug abuse treatment. J Addict Dis 2000; 19:65-83.
Torrens M, Martin-Santos R, Samet S. Importance of clinical diagnoses for comorbidity
studies in substance use disorders. Neurotox Res 2006;10:253-61.