Prevalence of use, abuse and dependence on legal and illegal psychotropic substances in an adolescent inpatient psychiatric population.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the prevalence of use, abuse, and dependence on legal and illegal psychotropic substances in an adolescent in-patient psychiatric population in relation to age and gender.


METHODS
Participants were all consecutive admissions (patients aged from 14 to 17) to the adolescent psychiatric in-patient unit. Of the 86 patients who met all the criteria for taking part in the study 70 were interviewed, giving a response rate of 81%. Prevalence of use and of substance use disorders were assessed through structured diagnostic interviews (M-CIDI), conducted from March 2000 through July 2000.


RESULTS
We found high prevalence of use and of the diagnosis of legal and illegal psychotropic substances. Around 76% reported a regular use of tobacco, 44% regular alcohol use, and 40% regular use of illegal substances. Diagnosis (abuse or dependence) was found in 50% of cases for nicotine, 29% for alcohol, and 26% for illegal substances.


CONCLUSIONS
The adolescent in-patient psychiatric population is at high risk of use, abuse, and dependence on legal and illegal psychotropic substances. It is important to diagnose these disorders (anamnesis, screening tools) and to install preventive and therapeutic programs in clinical therapeutic settings.
Niethammer
Oliver
O
Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Josefinum Kempten, Kempten, Germany. niethammer.oliver@josefinum.de
Frank
Reiner
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000296:Adolescent Psychiatry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
D013287:Illicit Drugs; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs