Epidemiological perspectives on comorbidity between substance use disorders and other mental disorders

Abstract

Epidemiological studies all over the world could show impressive associations between different groups of substance use disorders and mental disorders, such as affective disorders or anxiety disorders. Most studies investigated cross-sectional associations. The Munich longitudinal population based Early Developmental Stages of Psychopathology (EDSP) Study reported predictive associations between alcohol and cannabis use disorders and nicotine dependence and other mental disorders. This study revealed associations in both directs: from substance use disorders to other mental disorders and vice versa. Explanation of comorbidity should take into account therefore both directions of causality.