[Alcohol dependent subjects with psychiatric comorbidity: a heterogeneous group]

In a sample of 161 alcohol dependent outpatients, we carry out three comparative analysis between alcohol dependent subjects with and without associated affective disorders (n= 72); with and without associated personality disorders (n= 60) and with and without associated substance abuse disorders (n= 26) based on sociodemographic, clinical characteristics, treatment response and long-term evolution variables.

As for associated affective disorders, the only difference is that there are more female. As for associated personality disorders, we find that they are younger, there are more female, they have previous treatment background and worse short-term response. As for the group with associated substance abuse disorders, they are younger, have lower educational and social economic level, alcohol dependence onset earlier, more legal complications and worse half-term treatment response.

The alcohol dependent patients with comorbidity are a heterogeneous group which makes the use of it difficult to categorize alcohol dependence.