PREVALENCE, SEVERITY AND CORRELATES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL MORBIDITY AMONG METHADONE-MAINTENANCE CLIENTS

A sample of 222 methadone maintenance clients was tested for levels of depression, anxiety, and anti-social personality disorder. The preval ence of each type of psychopathology was high. There were large propor tions of subjects exhibiting extremely severe depression, anxiety and a majority were classified as ''psychiatric cases''. Depression and an xiety were strongly related, but anti-social behaviour was unrelated t o personal distress. Personal distress levels were predicted by benzod iazepine use, poorer social functioning and poorer health. Anti-social personality disorder was predicted by younger age, being male, poorer social functioning, and current criminality.