ARTICULO DE ADICCIONES - REVISION

Am J Psychiatry 162:8, August 2005 1483
Reviews and Overviews
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org
Co-Occurring Mental and Substance Use Disorders:
The Neurobiological Effects of Chronic Stress
Kathleen T. Brady, M.D., Ph.D.
Rajita Sinha, Ph.D.
The high rate of co-occurrence of substance use disorders and other psychiatric
disorders is well established. The population of people with co-occurring disorders
is heterogeneous, and the prevalence of comorbidity differs by diagnostic group.
One of the overarching issues in the area of comorbidity is the nature of the connection
between psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders. The rapid development of technical advances in the neurosciences has led to a better understanding
of the molecular biology, neurotransmitter systems, and neural circuitry
involved in mental illness and substance use disorders. The authors discuss
the neurobiological interface between substance use disorders and other
psychiatric disorders with an emphasis on emerging data concerning four psychiatric
disorders that commonly co-occur with substance use disorders: depression/
mood disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,
and schizophrenia. Better understanding
of the connection between substance use disorders and psychiatric
disorders could have a profound effect on prevention and treatment.
(Am J Psychiatry 2005; 162:1483–1493)