Lifetime Substance Use Disorders Research Articles

Association Among Parental Substance Use Disorder, P300 Amplitude, and Neurobehavioral Disinhibition in Preteen Boys at High Risk for Substance Use Disorder.

The P300 amplitude of the event-related potential as a mediator of the association between parental substance use disorder (SUD) and child's neurobehavioral disinhibition was assessed. The P300 amplitude was recorded using an oddball task in sons of fathers having either lifetime SUD (n = 105) or no psychiatric disorder (n = 160). Neurobehavioral disinhibition was assessed using measures of affect regulation, behavior control, and executive cognitive function. Parental SUD and child's P300 amplitude accounted for, respectively, 16.6% and 16.8% of neurobehavioral disinhibition variance. Controlling for parental and child psychopathology, an association between parental SUD and child's P300 amplitude was not observed. It was concluded that the P300 amplitude does not mediate the association between parental SUD and child's neurobehavioral disinhibition.

Relation between cognitive distortions and neurobehavior disinhibition on the development of substance use during adolescence and substance use disorder by young adulthood: a prospective study

Objective: Previous research has demonstrated that neurobehavior disinhibition increases the risk for a diagnosis of substance use disorder (SUD). This investigation tested the hypothesis that a deficiency in the capacity to appraise the effects of alcohol and drugs and interpret social interactions mediates the relation between neurobehavior disinhibition in childhood and SUD by early adulthood. Methods: Boys with fathers having lifetime SUD ( N = 88) and no SUD or other psychiatric disorder ( N = 127) were prospectively tracked from ages 10–12 to 19 years. Neurobehavior disinhibition was evaluated at baseline followed by assessments of cognitive distortions and substance use involvement in early and mid-adolescence. SUD outcome was evaluated up to age 19 years. Results: Cognitive distortions (age 12–14 years) mediated the association between neurobehavior disinhibition (age 10–12 years) and marijuana use (age 16 years) which, in turn, predicted SUD by age 19 years. Cognitive distortions in early adolescence did not directly predict SUD by young adulthood. Conclusions: Inaccurate social cognition, significantly predicted by childhood neurobehavior disinhibition, biases development toward marijuana use prodromal to SUD. These results indicate that cognitive processes, in conjunction with psychological self-regulation, comprise important components of the individual liability to SUD.

Ethnie Variation in the Prevalence of Substance Use Disorders in Youth Sectors of Care

Objective: Examine ethnic variation in the prevalence of substance use disorders (SUDs) among adolescents who received services in one or more public sectors of care including: Alcohol and Drug, Juvenile Justice, Mental Health, Public School-based services for youths with serious emotional disturbance, and Child Welfare, in relation to age, gender, and service sector affiliation. Methods: Participants included 936 adolescents 13-18 years of age randomly sampled from all youths who were active in at least one of the above five sectors of care (N = 12,662) in San Diego County, California. SUDs were assessed through structured diagnostic interviews conducted from October 1997 through February 1999. Results: Significant ethnic differences in prevalence rates were found in all sectors except child welfare. African-American youths were significantly less likely than Caucasian youths to meet criteria for lifetime and past-year SUDs. Differential patterns of SUDs were found for ethnic groups relative to Caucasian youths. Conclusions: Substance use disorders are prevalent among youths in all service sectors and there are significant ethnic differences that may represent differential substance use patterns as well as disparities in opportunities for treatment versus more restrictive services. Standardized evidence-based assessment and triage protocols may help in identifying and helping youths with substance use disorders in public service systems.

Comorbid personality disorders and substance use disorders of mentally ill homicide offenders: a structured clinical study on dual and triple diagnoses.

Comorbid substance use disorders (SUDs) increase the risk of homicide by persons with major mental disorders (MMDs). However, there are no published data from clinical interviews or lifetime objective documents on the prevalence of lifetime personality disorder (PD) or SUD among a comprehensive sample of mentally ill homicide offenders. Therefore, a nationally representative sample of men with MMD (n = 90) who had committed or attempted homicide was assessed using the research version of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I and Axis II Disorders. Lifetime documents, records, and questionnaires from persons who knew the subjects since childhood were used. Seventy-eight percent of the mentally ill homicide offenders were diagnosed with schizophrenia, 17 percent with schizoaffective disorder, and 5 percent with other psychosis. A lifetime SUD was detected in 74 percent and alcohol use disorder in 72 percent. PD accounted for 51 percent, in 47 percent as antisocial personality disorder (APD). All subjects diagnosed with PD had SUD. Only 25 percent of the subjects had neither SUD nor PD. Among persons with dual diagnoses (MMD and SUD), about two-thirds had PD or APD. These results indicated that there were two-thirds major diagnostic categories of psychotic homicide offenders: about one-half had triple diagnosis (APD + SUD + MMD), one-quarter had "pure" dual diagnosis (SUD + MMD), and one-quarter had "pure" MMD. The fourth possible category, "APD + MMD but no SUD," was not found. The prevention of severe violence by persons with MMD necessitates effective treatments for those with dual diagnosis who also have a history of APD.