Psychiatric comorbidity of methamphetamine dependence in a forensic sample

The objective of this study was to examine the association between psychiat ric symptoms and methamphetamine dependence. A four-hour survey was adminis tered to 1,580 arrestees sampled from the 14 most populous counties in Cali fornia. The survey included items assessing demographic profile, history of substance dependence, and psychiatric symptomatology. In the 12 months pri or to the assessment, methamphetamine-dependent individuals were more likel y to report depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation than individuals deny ing methamphetamine dependence, even after controlling for demographic prof ile and dependence on other drugs, Methamphetamine-dependent individuals al so weve move likely to report a need for psychiatric assistance at the time of the interview. These findings suggest that methamphetamine-dependent in dividuals are at greater risk to experience particular psychiatric symptoms . Further study to determine the etiology of these symptoms is warranted.