Based on the limited prior research findings in this area, five psychiatric disorders were selected as potential influences on cocaine dependence severity: MDD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, panic/ agoraphobia, and ASPD. Indices of cocaine dependence severity were selected to reflect the extent of recent and past cocaine use, chronicity of cocaine use (i.e., age of onset), the degree of physiological and psychological addiction (i.e., number of dependence and withdrawal symptoms), and potential for severe harm to the individual (i.e., overdose, arrests).
