Co-occurrence of Axis I and Axis II disorders in substance abusers

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the co-occurrence of anxiety/mood and personality disorders (PDs) in substance abusers, the impact of anxiety/ mood disorders on the symptom profiles of PDs, and the impact of anxiety/mood disorders and PDs on pre-treatment status. METHOD: Current anxiety/mood disorders and PDs and pre-treatment status were assessed using semi-structured interviews in 370 treated substance abusers. RESULTS: Anxiety/mood disorders and PDs frequently co-occurred, with the overall pattern of associations being non-specific. The strongest associations were of social phobia with avoidant and schizotypal PD, and of major depression with borderline PD. However, symptom profiles of PDs were not associated with anxiety/mood disorders. Finally, anxiety/mood disorders and PDs were both independently and differentially associated with poor pre-treatment characteristics. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest the clinical importance of obtaining both Axis I and Axis II diagnoses in treated substance abusers, and highlight the distinctiveness of the Axis I and Axis II disorders.