SUBSTANCE USE AND OTHER PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDERS AMONG 100 AMERICAN-INDIAN PATIENTS

One hundred American Indian patients with a Psychoactive Substance Use Disorder (PSUD) were studied with special reference to associated psy chiatric disorders. This clinical sample was divided into three groups : PSUD only, PSUD plus an Organic Mental Disorder (OMD), and PSUD plus any other psychiatric disorder. OMD diagnoses included primarily Deli rium Tremens and Alcoholic Hallucinosis; cases of Alcohol Amnestic Dis order, Alcohol Dementia, and trauma-induced OMD were also encountered. Other psychiatric disorders included primarily Major Depression and A nxiety Disorder, with smaller numbers of Schizophrenia, Conduct, Sexua l, and other Disorders. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared among these three groups. Those with PSUD + OMD tended to be older, male, and have more DSM-III Axis 3 disorders (American Psychiat ric Association 1980) as compared to other patients; those with PSUD other diagnoses tended to be single and younger. Education and occupa tional status were not related to the three diagnostic groups. The dat a were also subjected to MANOVA analysis. Even when corrected for sex, types of substance being abused, Axis 3 health status, and other fact ors, the three diagnostic groups still bore a significant relationship to age. Those with PSUD + Other psychiatric diagnoses besides OMD ten ded to be youngest. Those with PSUD-only were intermediate by age, whi le those with PSUD + OMD tended to be the oldest.