The use of the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research (DCPR) in Substance Use Disorders patients

Psychiatric diseases in patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) are currently diagnosed by means of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV). However, alternative diagnostic and conceptual criteria, the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research (DCPR), could be applied. In this framework, we compared the ability of DSM-IV and DCPR criteria to assess psychiatric disorders in a SUDs sample. Method: 58 consecutive outpatients were assessed according to DSM-IV and DCPR criteria. Results: at least one DCPR diagnosis was found in 87.9% patients and at least one DSM diagnosis in 69% patients. While patients who were given a DSM diagnosis frequently had additional DCPR diagnoses, several patients with DCPR criteria did not fulfill DSM criteria. Conclusions: DCPR are genuinely capturing clinical phenomena outside the range of DSM disorders in SUDs patients.