TY - JOUR
T1 - Covert outpatient drug abuse
T2 - Incidence and therapist recognition
AU - Hall, Richard C.W.
AU - Popkin, Michael K.
AU - Stickney, Sondra K.
AU - Gardner, Earl R.
PY - 1978/5
Y1 - 1978/5
N2 - One hundred ninety-five consecutive psychiatric outpatients were surveyed for covert drug abuse by a standardized technique for determining opiates, cocaine, barbiturates, and amphetamines in urine samples. On the basis of demographic variables, diagnostic information, and treatment course, patterns of abuse were defined for the 13.3 per cent with positive test results. Covert abusers demonstrated a higher incidence of adverse drug reactions and a less favorable therapy course than controls. Covert abuse was meaningfully related to misdiagnosis, management problems, and therapist’s response. Demographic variables and patient reports of previous abuse were not found to be reliable predicators of covert drug abuse. Urine screening for drug use is recommended as an aid to proper diagnosis of psychiatric outpatients that present diagnostic questions.
AB - One hundred ninety-five consecutive psychiatric outpatients were surveyed for covert drug abuse by a standardized technique for determining opiates, cocaine, barbiturates, and amphetamines in urine samples. On the basis of demographic variables, diagnostic information, and treatment course, patterns of abuse were defined for the 13.3 per cent with positive test results. Covert abusers demonstrated a higher incidence of adverse drug reactions and a less favorable therapy course than controls. Covert abuse was meaningfully related to misdiagnosis, management problems, and therapist’s response. Demographic variables and patient reports of previous abuse were not found to be reliable predicators of covert drug abuse. Urine screening for drug use is recommended as an aid to proper diagnosis of psychiatric outpatients that present diagnostic questions.
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U2 - 10.1097/00005053-197805000-00005
DO - 10.1097/00005053-197805000-00005
M3 - Article
C2 - 650198
AN - SCOPUS:0017841123
SN - 0022-3018
VL - 166
SP - 343
EP - 348
JO - Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
JF - Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
IS - 5
ER -