Prevalence of Substance Use Disorder and Psychiatric Comorbidities

Abstract

Prevalence of substance use disorder and psychiatric comorbidities

Introduction

The substance use disorder (SUD) is one of the most common disorders in adolescence. The lifetime prevalence is 3% to 32%. Alcohol and tobacco are the most used licit substance and cannabis is the most commonly used illicit substance. Studies indicate that approximately 75% of patients with SUD have psychiatric comorbidities such as conduct disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and affective d<a name="_GoBack"></a>isorder. Adolescents with SUD and comorbid mental disorder have high risk for continuing problems in adulthood. The costs of treating SUD and a psychiatric comorbidity is twice as high when treated separately.

Objective

To find the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities in adolescentes with SUD.

Methods

The diagnostic instrument Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School aged Children 6-18years (K-SADS-PL) was used to identify SUD and all psychiatry disorders in adolescents admitted to a clinic for SUD treatment.

Results

In a sample of 30 adolescents with SUD, 8 adolescents (26,6%) has ADHD comorbid and 14 (46,6%) has conduct cisorder comorbid. Four (13,3%) patients has affective disorder comorbid.

Conclusion

Early diagnosis of a psychiatry comorbidity can improve the treatment in adolescence and prevent further complications such as legal and medical problems, suicide, learning difficulties, school dropout, unemployment and interpersonal relationship problems.