Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study is to compare the addiction profiles of substance users with comorbid attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and of those without attention-deficit hyper-activity disorder (ADHD) comorbidity. Method: 100 patients with substance use disorder (SUD) who continued to undergo inpatient treatment during September 2014-August 2015 in Private Balikli Rum Hospital were included in the study. Based on DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, 50 patients who have SUD with ADHD comorbidity were considered as study group, the other 50 patients with only SUD were evaluated as control group. Sociodemographic Data Form, Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Addiction Profile Index (BAPI), and Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS ADHD) were given to the patients who participated to the study. Results: It was found that the age of onset for substance use was younger in a statistically significant manner in the patients who had SUD with comorbid ADHD (ADHD-SUD group) than the control group (SUD group) (t = 3.57, p = 0.001). Regarding to scores in the scales of these two groups, scores of aggression questionnaire (BPAQ) and craving subscale (BAPI) in ADHD-SUD group were significantly higher comparing to SUD group. Conclusion: In this study, it was revealed that the age of onset for substance use was younger in substance users with comorbid ADHD and that the level of aggression and craving was higher again in this group. Craving and level of aggression might have negative impacts on the treatment process. Therefore, we believe that it is essential to consider ADHD comorbidity in patients with substance use disorders.
Highlights
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder in which attention-deficit and hyperactivity symptoms are experienced
The age of initiation to using substance was younger in ADHD-substance use disorders (SUD) group than in SUD group and this difference was statistically significant (Table 1)
It was revealed that aggression level (BPAQ) in ADHD-SUD group was significantly higher than SUD group
Summary
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder in which attention-deficit and hyperactivity symptoms are experienced. The studies about ADHD and substance use are more likely to focus on trying to understand whether ADHD is a risk factor for substance use or not and the mechanisms which play a role in developing an addiction behavior for patients with ADHD [9]-[11]. It is not examined whether there might be a difference between addiction profiles of patients who have SUD with comorbid ADHD and of those without ADHD comorbidity. We might state that our study aimed at filling this gap in the literature
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