A comparison of self-reported symptoms and DSM-III-R criteria for cocaine withdrawal

The frequencies of 15 self-reported symptoms of cocaine withdrawal were compared in 75 subjects to the symptoms listed as criteria by DSM-III and DSM-III-R for either amphetamine or cocaine withdrawal. Three of the four most frequently reported symptoms, depression (75%), sleep disturbance (71%), and fatigue (69%), corresponded to DSM-III and DSM-III-R criteria. The only other DSM-III symptom, increased dreaming (33%), was infrequently reported, lending support to its deletion by DSM-III-R. Physical withdrawal symptoms, which are generally unappreciated in cocaine withdrawal, were reported by 64% of the sample. Neither the DSM-III criteria nor the new DSM-III-R criteria include other frequent symptoms which might contribute to relapse and impaired functioning, such as craving (69%), apathy/amotivation (67%), and restlessness (64%). Thus, these criteria may be too narrowly defined for treatment purposes.