Regarding specific DSM-IV criteria for MA dependence, females more frequently endorsed 6 of the 7 items, including spending time on activities necessary to obtain the substance, use of the substance, or recovering from its effects (χ21=31.2, p<0.001), continuing to use despite knowledge of having a persistent physical or psychological problem (χ21=10.6, p=0.001), persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control substance use (χ21=10.9, p=0.001), using larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended (χ21=45.0, p<0.001), tolerance (χ21=6.8, p=0.009) and experiencing withdrawal symptoms (χ21=21.4, p<0.001) (Figure 1). The criterion “important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of substance use” did not differ between the two groups. In term of withdrawal symptoms, larger numbers of females reported hypersomnia (χ21=14.5, p<0.001), fatigue (χ21=5.2, p=0.02) and psychomotor retardation (χ21=4.5, p=0.03) whereas other symptoms did not reach statistical significance (Figure 2).
