Cocaine dependence with and without posttraumatic stress disorder: A comparison of substance use, trauma history and psychiatric comorbidity

This study examined the relationship between substance use, trauma history, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and psychiatric comorbidity in a tr eatment seeking sample of cocaine dependent individuals (N = 91). Structure d clinical interviews revealed that 42.9% of the sample met DSM-III-R crite ria for lifetime PTSD. Comparisons between individuals with and without lif etime PTSD revealed that individuals with, PTSD had significantly higher ra tes of exposure to traumatic events, earlier age of first assault, more sev ere symptomatology, and higher rates of Axis land Axis II diagnoses. The re sults illustrate a high incidence of PTSD among cocaine dependent individua ls. Routine assessment of trauma history and PTSD may assist in the identif ication of a subgroup of cocaine users in need of special prevention and tr eatment efforts.