POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER AND COCAINE DEPENDENCE - ORDER OF ONSET

To investigate differences between patients those posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) preceded their cocaine dependence and vice versa, 33 patients with comorbid PTSD and cocaine dependence were divided into t wo groups: one in which the trauma and PTSD occurred ea before onset o f cocaine dependence (primary PTSD) and one in which the PTSD occurred after cocaine dependence was established (primary cocaine). In the pr imary-PTSD group, the trauma was generally childhood abuse. In the pri mary-cocaine group, the trauma was generally associated with the procu rement and use of cocaine. In the primary-PTSD group, there were signi ficantly more women, more other Axis I diagnoses, more Cluster B and C Axis II diagnoses, and more benzodiazepine and opiate use. In the pri mary-cocaine group, there was a trend toward more cocaine use in the p revious month. Significant clinical differences between these two grou ps may warrant different types of treatment or differing treatment emp hasis.