Cocaine and depressive disorders: When standard clinical diagnosis is insufficient

• Published in: Adicciones (Palma de Mallorca) 2021-01, Vol.33 (3), p.1321-200
• Main Authors: Alías-Ferri, Maria, García-Marchena, Nuria, Mestre-Pintó, Joan Ignasi, Araos, Pedro, Vergara-Moragues, Esperanza, Fonseca, Francina, González-Saiz, Francisco, Rodríguez de Fonseca, Fernando, Torrens, Marta, Group, Neurodep
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0214-4840
• DOI: 10.20882/adicciones.1321

Cocaine use is a growing global health problem and patients with cocaine use disorders (CUD) present several complications, including high rates of major depression. These subjects present two types of major depressive disorder (MDD): primary major depressive disorder (P-MDD) and cocaine-induced major depressive disorder (CI-MDD). To improve treatment, it is necessary to distinguish between both types. The aim of this study was to assess the differences in depressive symptomatology criteria (P-MDD vs CI-MDD) in CUD patients. Secondary data analysis was carried out with a cross-sectional sample of 160 patients presenting CUD and MDD. Clinical assessment was performed using the Psychiatric Research Interview for Substance and Mental Disorders (PRISM). A differential diagnosis was obtained between P-MDD and CI-MDD. Men represented 80% of the sample, the mean age was 38.61 years, and 64.5% had elementary studies. CI-MDD diagnosis (61.3%) was more frequent than P-MDD (38.7%). There was a younger age of CUD onset in CI-MDD patients. In addition, 79.4% of the patients had another substance use disorder diagnosis. The criterion "Changes in weight or appetite" was more prevalent (57.1%) in P-MDD group. We found differences in the criterion "Changes in weight or appetite". Further research is needed in this field to establish a differential diagnosis and thus provide better treatment for CUD patients.