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Psychiatric disorders in substance-abusing adolescent inpatients: a pilot study
1Adolescent Program, Tidewater Psychiatric Institute, Virginia Beach, Va.
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
|November 1, 1992
Summary
Most adolescents in inpatient substance use disorder treatment have co-occurring psychiatric disorders. This highlights the need for integrated treatment approaches for dual diagnosis in adolescents.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Adolescent Health
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- Adolescents with primary substance use disorders (SUDs) often present with co-occurring mental health conditions.
- Understanding the prevalence and patterns of these dual diagnoses is crucial for effective treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among adolescents admitted for inpatient SUD treatment.
- To identify common co-occurring psychiatric conditions and explore potential treatment implications for dual diagnosis subgroups.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study was conducted with 226 adolescents entering inpatient SUD treatment.
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition-Revised (DSM-III-R) criteria were used for psychiatric disorder assessment.
Main Results:
- 82% of adolescents met criteria for at least one Axis I psychiatric disorder.
- 74% had two or more psychiatric disorders, with mood (61%), conduct (54%), and anxiety (43%) disorders being most common.
- 16% had substance-induced organic mental disorders.
Conclusions:
- Adolescents with SUDs frequently exhibit comorbid psychiatric conditions, necessitating concurrent evaluation.
- The high prevalence of dual diagnosis suggests specific treatment strategies combining psychiatric and substance abuse interventions may be beneficial.