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The Role of Gender Differences and Other Client Characteristics in the Prevalence of DSM-IV Affective Disorders Among a European Therapeutic Community Population

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Abstract

There is a lack of research illustrating the extent of psychiatric problems in European TCs. Furthermore, there is a need to obtain more insight into gender differences concerning comorbidity in the TC population. In an attempt to respond to previous shortcomings, three specific goals were formulated for the current study. The primary aim was to explore the lifetime prevalence of affective disorders in European TC clients. The second aim was to focus on related gender differences. And finally, client characteristics measured by the EuropASI were related to mood and anxiety disorders measured by the SCID-I. Nine out of ten substance abusers treated in a European TC program have an affective disorder. Gender differences are noted for two anxiety disorders: men have more obsessive-compulsive disorders; women have more post-traumatic stress disorders. The study illustrates that not only gender but also other client characteristics should be taken into account when organizing treatment.

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Notes

  1. These characteristics could differ from the characteristics of the whole sample of 863 clients.

  2. All reported odds are estimated and depend on the current model and sample.

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Acknowledgements

This study would not have been possible without the BIOMED II IPTRP project, which was financed by contract BMH4-CT96-0688 (DG 12-SSMA) provided by the European Commission. We would like to thank all BIOMED partners who have contributed to the realization of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedagogics, Ghent University, H. Dunantlaan 2, Ghent, B-9000, Belgium

    Joke De Wilde Ph.D., Eric Broekaert Professor & Veerle Soyez Ph.D.

  2. Department of Data Analysis, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    Yves Rosseel Professor

  3. Department of Psychiatric and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Philippe Delespaul Professor

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  1. Joke De Wilde Ph.D.
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  2. Eric Broekaert Professor
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  5. Veerle Soyez Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Joke De Wilde Ph.D..

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De Wilde, J., Broekaert, E., Rosseel, Y. et al. The Role of Gender Differences and Other Client Characteristics in the Prevalence of DSM-IV Affective Disorders Among a European Therapeutic Community Population. Psychiatr Q 78, 39–51 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-006-9025-8

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