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Stimulants and Mood Disorders

  • Dual Diagnosis (T George and A Hassan, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

To review the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of co-occurring mood disorders (bipolar disorder and major depression) and stimulant use disorders (SUD), which includes cocaine and methamphetamine use disorders.

Recent Findings

Epidemiological studies support frequent co-occurrence between mood and SUD. Multiple studies support a bidirectional negative impact between mood and SUD for clinical outcomes and treatment response. Only a few clinical trials were conducted in individuals with mood and SUD comorbidity. The majority of trials for mood disorders have excluded patients with comorbid substance use disorders.

Summary

Future clinical trials that are focused on behavioral and pharmacological treatment of mood and SUD are needed. Further, research focused on understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mood and SUD comorbidity as well as improving the diagnosis and engagement of these patients is needed.

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Funding

VISN 1 New England Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Centers (MIRECC).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. VA Connecticut Healthcare System, 950 Campbell Ave 116B, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA

    R. Ross MacLean & Mehmet Sofuoglu

  2. Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    R. Ross MacLean & Mehmet Sofuoglu

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  1. R. Ross MacLean
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  2. Mehmet Sofuoglu
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Correspondence to R. Ross MacLean.

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MacLean, R.R., Sofuoglu, M. Stimulants and Mood Disorders. Curr Addict Rep 5, 323–329 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-018-0212-0

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