done describing psychiatric comorbidity in cocaine-using persons (Schottenfeld et al., 1993; Ziedonis et al., 1994) and in the general drug-using population (Warner et al., 1995), less work has been carried out in MA-dependent samples (Glasner-Edwards et al., 2009, Glasner-Edwards et al., 2008, Shoptaw et al., 2003). When co-occurring psychiatric disorders are present, they may adversely affect the response to treatment of substance use disorders (see Ries and Goldsmith, 2009 for a review). Published studies have shown that patients who had access to ongoing mental health treatment had better substance abuse outcomes compared to those who did not (Moos et al., 2002, Ouimette et al., 1998). Thus, the characterization and description of co-occurring disorders is an important first step in the treatment of co-occurring psychiatric disorders in MA abuse. Knowledge about the frequency and characteristics of co-occurring disorders may lead to improved diagnostic efficiency and accuracy. Such information may also guide clinical and programmatic planning for additional mental health services that may be required in the treatment of MA dependence.
