DSM‐III‐R co‐morbidity in benzodiazepine dependence

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Abstract
Aim, sample and measures. Co‐morbidity has been shown to influence the clinical course of mental disorders. This paper describes DSM‐III‐R 1‐month co‐morbidity across axes I, II and III in a sample of 153 benzodiazepine dependants. All patients were evaluated through several in‐depth clinical interviews across all five DSM‐III‐R axes. Results. Extensive co‐morbidity existed across three DSM‐III‐R axes. All patients had at least one diagnosis in axis I; 81 (52.9%) in axis II and 50 (32.7%) in axis III. The most prevalent diagnoses were: insomnia, anxiety disorders and affective disorders in axis I; obsessive‐compulsive, histrionic and dependent personality disorders in axis II and rheumatological, neurological and cardiovascular disorders in axis III. Conclusions. There were no cases of benzodiazepine dependence appearing alone. There were associations within and between axes, suggesting potential predisposing factors and a sequential model for benzodiazepine dependence is proposed. The findings reinforce the need for exhaustive diagnostic evaluation of patients prior to prescribing benzodiazepine.

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