title: Course of self-reported symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity in substance abusers during early treatment.
abstract: Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder has been associated with poor outcome in studies of substance use disorders. This study aimed to assess the course of self-reported symptoms of both attention deficit and hyperactivity among adults presenting for treatment for substance use disorders. A sample of 75 substance abusers were assessed after they were admitted to a centralized intake unit, and followed at 3 and 6 months after intake by independent interviewers (follow-up rate 81%). Symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity were assessed with the Adult Self-report Scale for ADHD (ASRS). Both types of symptoms declined significantly during follow-up, but attention symptoms had a high intraclass correlation (0.79), and hyperactivity had a moderate intraclass correlation (0.64). Both baseline attention deficit and hyperactivity symptoms were associated with worse work and social adjustment after controlling for baseline functioning. Hyperactivity was associated with poorer substance use outcomes at the trend level. In conclusion, both dimensions of ADHD contribute to worse functioning during early treatment for substance abusers, and the ASRS is a reasonably stable measure of ADHD symptoms during early recovery.
authors.affiliation: University of Aarhus, Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research, Artillerivej 90, Copenhagen S, Denmark. mh@crf.au.dk
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hesse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057566:Self Report; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult