ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR IN MENTAL-DISORDERS - A SURVEY IN THE PARIS AREA

Comorbidity between addictive behavior (concerning alcohol or other dr ugs) and mental illness, also cabled ''dual diagnosis'', has been a ma jor subject of research in the USA during the last decade. Figures rep orted for addictive behavior prevalence among patients treated for men tal illness have been estimated between 20 and 75%, In schizophrenic p atients, addiction is a source of treatment resistance and increases t he use of health care resources. This study is an extension of the sur vey on drug addiction performed by the SESI (Statistical Department of Ministry of Health) in November 1996. 428 dual diagnosis patients, re ported by 34 sector community mental health reams, were studied in ter ms of diagnosis and treatment. Psychotic disorders appear as the most frequent diagnosis (28, 7%), followed by personality disorders (22, 2% ), and affective disorders (14, 7 %). Dual diagnosis patients, when ho spitalized have longer and more frequent stays. Implications of these results are discussed.