[Substance-related disorders and transition psychiatry]

Addictive disorders are typically manifested during adolescence and have a high transmission rate into adulthood. When adulthood is reached the responsibility by the child and adolescent psychiatric care system ends and patients transition to adult psychiatry. A lack of supportive concepts and approaches to this transition can have detrimental effects on the long-term health of affected individuals.

Addiction treatment requirements of young adults transitioning between the systems of care are presented. Developmental psychopathological concepts are presented and treatment recommendations are provided.

The scientific literature on development-related approaches to addiction treatment was evaluated. Care conditions relevant to transitional psychiatry are discussed and a description of needs is carried out.

Adolescents and young adults are very frequently affected by addictive disorders. The need for disorder-specific and age-specific transition-related concepts and services for these patients is high. During the transition from child and adolescent psychiatry to the psychiatric care system for adults, patients with substance-related disorders require treatment-related educational and age-appropriate psychosocial support services that address the high comorbidity and developmental delays.

Age-specific and disorder-specific treatment services should be broadly expanded and the interfaces to youth welfare, addiction counseling and adult psychiatry should be better coordinated.