Psychiatric disorders in substance-abusing adolescent inpatients: a pilot study

In a pilot study of 226 adolescents entering inpatient treatment because of a primary substance use disorder, 82% met DSM-III-R criteria for an Axis I psychiatric disorder. Of this population, 74% had two or more psychiatric disorders. Mood disorders were found in 61%, conduct disorders in 54%, and anxiety disorders in 43%. Substance induced organic mental disorders were found in 16%. The data argue strongly for the simultaneous evaluation of both substance use and psychiatric disorders in this type of adolescent population. The pilot study also demonstrates the relative frequency of dually diagnosed subgroups. The authors propose that the dual diagnosis subgrouping may have specific treatment implications involving a combined psychiatric and substance abuse treatment approach.