Pharmacotherapy and Psychiatric Comorbidity

The rates of comorbid psychiatric disorders such as depression, ADHD, and antisocial personality disorder are significantly higher in stimulant abusers 

With all of these pharmacotherapies, concurrent behavioral treatment is critical to retain the patient in treatment and maintain adherence to medication treatment. Contingency management programs in which patients receive vouchers that can be used to purchase pro-social goods and services are the most common reinforcer approaches used to initiate and maintain stimulant-free urine test results (Anker and Crowley 1982 Boudin 1972 Higgins et al. 1991, 1993, 1994). The major problem with these approaches has been maintaining abstinence after the reinforcers are withdrawn completely and devel- 

Ahmad K Asia grapples with spreading amphetamine abuse. Lancet 361 1878—1879,2003 Almodovar-Fabregas LJ, Segarra O, Colon N, et al Effects of cocaine administration on VTA cell activity in response to prefrontal cortex stimulation. Ann N Y Acad 

Beatty WW, Katzung VM, Moreland VJ, et al Neuropsychological performance of recently abstinent alcoholics and cocaine abusers. Drug Alcohol Depend 37 247— 233, 1995 

Bell DS The experimental reproduction of amphetamine psychosis. Arch Gen Psychi-atry29 35 0, 1973 

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