Attention deficit and hiperactivity disorder in cocaine addiction

Abstract

Aims:

To study the incidence of Attention Deficit and Hiperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in a patients sample in treatment for cocaine addiction, and the characteristics of this group.

Method:

We have recruited 43 subjects in treatment to cocaine abuse (DSM-IV-TR : F14) in Adicction Provincial Center in Grandada.

We have registered sociodemográfical and clinical data, habits of abuse, the Cocaine Effects Expectancy Questionnaire, two scales autoadministered for ADHD's diagnosis: in the infancy, Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) and in the adult (scale of the list of ADHD's symptoms in DSM-IV).

The sample was divided in two groups according to the presence of ADHD in adult age.

Results:

In 60,5% of the sample there was history of ADHD in the infancy, with persistence 80,8% (48,8% of the sample) in the adult age.

Patients with ADHD were smokers in 95,5%. 71,4% was consuming alcohol (average 12,6 gr/week), 23,8% was consuming cocaine always together with alcohol.

61,9% of the ADHD group was consuming another illegal drug (cannabis), opposite to 31,8% in control group. (p=0,048).

The first consumption in ADHD group is earlier (17 years vs. 22 years; p=0,001) and most frequent consumption too (22,4 years vs. 27,6 years; p=0,006).

Cocaine doses used is higher in ADHD group (1,39 gr vs 1,07 gr n.s.)

Conclusions:

There is a high comorbidity in cocaine abuse with ADHD. This group has different characteristics, as the age of beginning of the abuse or of the higher abuse.