Acute dually diagnosed inpatients: the use of self-report symptom severity instruments in persons with depressive disorders and cocaine dependence.

A total of 84 adult inpatient dual-diagnosis (cocaine dependence and unipolar depressive disorder) patients' charts were reviewed. Patients were administered the BDI, SCL-90-R with Additional Items for Major Depressive Syndrome, and the DAST-20 within 5 days of admission as standard assessment practice in a hospital program. Depression scores for the BDI and the SCL-90-R were generally consistent, respectively, across each of the depressive disorder diagnostic groups with the exception of organic (cocaine-induced) mood disorder, which had lower mean scores on both instruments. BDI mean score differences were statistically significant regarding the depressive and organic (substance-induced) patients. DAST-20 mean scores were consistent across the diagnostic groups (substantial drug abuse range). Results suggest potential discriminating ability of the BDI in particular in distinguishing genuine unipolar depressive disorders from organically (cocaine) induced mood symptomology when assessments are done rapidly following cocaine cessation.