Half of drug treatment adolescents had psychiatric history

Half of adolescents attending a drug treatment service had a history of psychiatric disorders, according to research.

The study claims to be the first to present data on the extent of psychiatric problems among young people with a drug problem attending a clinical centre.

The research was carried out in the Youth Drug and Alcohol (Yoda) service, the largest outpatient adolescent substance misuse treatment programme in Dublin.

The study examined 144 individuals aged between 13-19 who attended the service over 18 months in 2010 and 2011.

It found:

• 48% of patients had a lifetime history of psychiatric disorders;
• Deliberate self-harm was the most common condition, at 27%;
• Attention deficit disorder accounted for 21%;
• Depression accounted for 10%.

The research found a that history of psychiatric disorders was significantly higher in girls than boys — 73% of girls attending the service, compared to 43% of boys.

Depression, self-harm, and anxiety disorder was far more common among girls, while attention deficit disorder and psychosis was higher among boys.

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Source: Cormac O’Keeffe, Irish Examiner, 21/09/2012