Psychological symptoms and drug use severity among Israeli adolescents presenting for outpatient drug abuse treatment.
The objective of this study was to assess the rates of externalizing and internalizing symptoms, and the relation between psychological symptoms and drug use severity, among 117 Israeli adolescents presenting for outpatient drug abuse treatment. Psychological symptoms were assessed via both adolescent self-report and parent report. Drug use was assessed using both adolescent self-report and urinalysis. Results showed that 58% of the sample evidenced clinical levels of psychological symptoms, with girls evidencing higher rates of externalizing and mixed symptomatology than boys. Parents' report of adolescents' internalizing symptoms predicted severity of drug use. These findings suggest that treatment for this population should be multidimensional, and address not only drug use per se, but also psychological risk factors.
Diamond
Gary M
GM
Department of Behavioral Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva, Israel. gdiamond@bgumail.bgu.ac.il
Izzard
Miriam C
MC
Kedar
Tami
T
Hutlzer
Anat
A
Mell
Haim
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006213:Hallucinogens; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008238:Lysergic Acid Diethylamide; D008297:Male; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000652:urine
D006213:Hallucinogens; D008238:Lysergic Acid Diethylamide; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine