Psychiatric and psychosocial predictors of substance use disorders among adolescents: longitudinal study.
BACKGROUND
Few studies have prospectively examined psychosocial and psychiatric predictors of adolescent substance use disorders simultaneously.


OBJECTIVE
To identify psychosocial and psychiatric predictors of substance use disorders in adolescence.


METHODS
School children aged 12 years (s.d.=0.3) free from any substance use disorder at grade 7 (n=428) were assessed in three consecutive years, using a standardised psychiatric interview. Their baseline psychosocial information was also collected. The outcome was the onset age of a substance use disorder. The Cox regression model was used for data analysis.


RESULTS
The most significant predictive factors for adolescent substance use disorder included male gender, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder and sibling use of tobacco. Three protective factors against such morbidity included living in a household with two parents, a good academic grade at grade 7 and objection to the use of substances.


CONCLUSIONS
Early intervention for disruptive behaviour disorders and specific psychosocial risk factors might prevent substance use disorders in early adolescence.
Gau
Susan S F
SS
Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chong
Mian-Yoon
MY
Yang
Pincheng
P
Yen
Cheng-Fang
CF
Liang
Kung-Yee
KY
Cheng
Andrew T A
AT
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D013624:Taiwan