Psychiatric illness in male and female narcotic addicts

This report describes the results of initial psychiatric interviews on 100 male and 100 female narcotic addicts who were matched by age, race, and geographic origin. The majority met criteria for antisocial personality whereas about one in four males and one in seven females met criteria for alcoholism. Between one-third and one-half of the subjects met criteria for secondary depression. Bipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia rates were not elevated. Males significantly more often were diagnosed as having antisocial personality and alcoholism whereas females significantly more often were diagnosed as having a non-drug depression. Treatment implications of the observed differences between males and females are discussed.