title: Longitudinal associations between childhood and adulthood externalizing and internalizing psychopathology and adolescent substance use.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Emotional and behavioral problems are commonly associated with substance use in adolescence but it is unclear whether substance use precedes or follows mental health problems. The aim was to investigate longitudinal associations between externalizing and internalizing psychopathology and substance use in a prospective population study design.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample was the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 Study (NFBC 1986; n = 6349; 3103 males). Externalizing and internalizing mental health problems were assessed at age 8 years (Rutter scales), substance use and externalizing and internalizing problems [Youth Self-Report (YSR)] at age 15-16 years, and hospital diagnoses for internalizing disorders (age 25) and criminal offences (age 20) from nationwide registers in adulthood.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Externalizing problems at age 8 were associated with later substance use. After adjustment for sociodemographic factors, parental alcohol use and psychiatric disorders, and earlier externalizing and internalizing problems, substance use predicted criminality, especially among males, with the highest odds ratio (OR) for cannabis use [adjusted OR 6.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.1-12.7]. Early internalizing problems were not a risk for later substance use. Female adolescent cannabis (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.4-7.3) and alcohol (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1-4.2) use predicted internalizing disorders in adulthood.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Externalizing problems precede adolescent substance use in both genders, whereas, among boys, substance use also precedes criminal offences. Internalizing problems may follow substance use in females. These associations were robust even when taking into account previous mental health problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miettunen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge and CPFT, UK.
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge and CPFT, UK.
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mäki
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Child Psychiatry, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ebeling
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taanila
authors.affiliation: Social Psychiatry Unit, School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joukamaa
authors.affiliation: School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Nebraska at Omaha, NE, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Savolainen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Törmänen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: M-R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Järvelin
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Veijola
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Child Psychiatry, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moilanen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D057237:Criminals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult