Dual diagnosis: Focusing on depression and recommendations for treatment

Depressive disorders and substance use disorders are the most common dual pathologies in the substance abuse field. It is difficult to establish whether the depressed state is induced or rather independent of substance use and/or abuse, therefore, making the therapeutic approach more complex. This article presents the state of the art of the currently available pharmacologic treatments of comorbid depression in patients with alcohol, cocaine, heroin, and tobacco dependence disorders, thus emphasizing the safety and tolerability of various antidepressant drugs. Finally, it is also aimed to call attention on the appropriate recommendations for the use of antidepressants in patients with this dual pathology. Copyright © 2011 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.