Diagnosing adult attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in patients with cocaine dependence: discriminant validity
Esperanza Vergara-Moragues1, Francisco González-Saiz, Oscar Lozano Rojas
1Fundación Andaluza para la Atención a las Drogodependencias, FADAIS, Sevilla, Spain.
Objective:
To estimate the prevalence of adult attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a sample of cocaine-dependent patients, and to examine the discriminant validity of the Barkley's executive dysfunction scale in differentiating cocaine-dependent patients with and without ADHD.
Methods:
A cross-sectional design was used. A total of 166 cocaine-dependent subjects were assessed. The assessment instruments included: Conners' Adult ADHD Diagnostic Interview for DSM-IV (CAADID), Psychiatric Research Interview for Substance and Mental Disorders (PRISM-IV) and 9 items from Current Behavior Scale Self-Report by Russell A. Barkley.
Results:
14.5% (CI95%: 9.2-19.8%) prevalence of ADHD was observed in our sample. The Barkley's executive dysfunction items showed statistically significant differences between cocaine-dependent patients with ADHD and those patients without ADHD diagnosis.
Conclusions:
The study data support Barkley's model - which posits the relevance of executive dysfunction among ADHD patients within a sample of cocaine dependents, and provides evidence of the discriminant validity of the Current Behavior Scale Self-Report for identifying ADHD symptoms in cocaine users.
Related Concept Videos
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
CNS Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines and Cannabinoids
Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...


