The characterization of comorbid psychiatric disorders in a non-clinical sample of MA-dependent individuals has important relevance to clinical settings. As many MA abusers end up in hospital emergency rooms, knowledge about which Axis I disorders have a greater likelihood to be substance induced versus primary may contribute to more rapid diagnoses and initiation of additional psychiatric treatment, reducing the time spent in crisis or inpatient settings (Gray et al., 2007). It is well documented that MA-related crisis admissions have a major impact on emergency medical resources and those patients are at high risk for hospital readmission (Zweben et al., 2004; Gray et al., 2007). In conjunction with the other studies cited, our results indicate that a high level of clinical alertness for the presence or recurrence of independent mood and anxiety disorders is warranted in the MA-dependent population. Failure to do so may result in poorer treatment response, both for the MA dependence and for the co-occurring other psychiatric disorder. Similarly, the high percentage of lifetime but not current dependence on other substances suggests that addressing the potential for relapse
