title: Clinical Correlates of Alcohol Abuse among Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatients in Israel.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent epidemiological studies have reported a world-wide increase in the rates of alcohol use among adolescents. Research has shown a strong link between alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorders. This study explored the clinical and demographic correlates of adolescents with a history of alcohol abuse (AA) compared to adolescents with no history of alcohol abuse (NAA) among a group of adolescent psychiatric inpatients in Israel.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and thirty-eight subjects were screened, all were patients consecutively admitted to an adolescent inpatient unit at a university-affiliated mental health center in Israel during a 4-year period
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients in the AA group were more prone to have a history of suicide attempts and self-injury compared to patients in the NAA group. Prevalence of attentiondeficit disruptive behavior disorders was more common in the AA group, and these patients were more prone to have a history of criminal activity and drug use. Median length of hospitalization was greater in the NAA group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Limitations concerning attribution of causality due to the cross-sectional nature of this study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher prevalence of criminal behavior, selfinjury and suicide attempts associated with alcohol abuse may be related to higher levels of impulsivity, indicated by higher prevalence of attention-deficit disruptive behavior disorders. Alcohol-related disorders should be carefully screened and addressed in adolescent psychiatric units and in consequent ambulatory treatment settings.
authors.affiliation: Addiction Medicine Services, Department of Psychiatry, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Feingold
authors.affiliation: Shalvata Mental Health Center, Hod Hasharon, Israel Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Uri
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Nitzan
authors.affiliation: Shalvata Mental Health Center, Hod Hasharon, Israel Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ratzoni
authors.affiliation: Addiction Medicine Services, Department of Psychiatry, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel Social and Epidemiologic Research Department, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Shaul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lev-Ran
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*