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Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Subtypes of major depression in substance dependence
Addiction Early View 4 Aug 2009

This study evaluated features that differentiate subtypes of major depressive episode (MDE) in the context of substance dependence (SD).

Psychiatric measures were better predictors of MDE subtype than substance-related or socio-demographic ones. Subjects with both types of MDE reported more life-time depressive symptoms and comorbid anxiety disorders and were more likely to have attempted suicide than subjects with I-MDE or SI-MDE. Subjects with both types of MDE, like those with I-MDE, were also more likely than subjects with SI-MDE to be alcohol-dependent only than either drug-dependent only or both alcohol- and drug-dependent.

SD individuals with both types of MDE have greater psychiatric severity than those with I-MDE only or SI-MDE only. These and other features that distinguish among the MDE subtypes have important diagnostic and potential therapeutic implications.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: kranzler@psychiatry.uchc.edu

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