Comorbidity of substance abuse with other psychiatric disorders

Comorbidity of substance abuse with other psychiatric disorders. The coincidence of substance abuse with other psychiatric disorders or the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders with a concomitant substance abuse is a common but often underestimated phenomenon in psychiatric practice. Its management means a particular challenge to therapists and institutions. In the literature prevalence rates of comorbid disorders are subject to high variance due to different definitions of comorbidity and differences in the methodology of study designs. The complex interrelationship between two or more disorders causes difficulties in their classification as independent or causal related to each other. A longitudinal diagnosis is needed before a syndrome can be regarded as comorbid. in this review issues related to the terminology of comorbidity, the pathogenetic interrelations between substance abuse and other psychiatric disorders and methodological considerations are covered. There is still a need for proper intervention strategies in the treatment of this group of patients.