title: Depression and severity of substance dependence among heroin dependent patients with ADHD symptoms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Comorbid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms are highly prevalent among heroin-dependent patients. We aim to investigate differences in dependence severity, depression, and quality of life between heroin-dependent patients with and without ADHD-screened positive.
  
  
  METHODS
  Heroin-dependent participants (n = 447) entering methadone maintenance treatment were divided into ADHD-screened positive (ADHD-P) and ADHD-screened negative (ADHD-N) groups according to scores of Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS). Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview was used to identify current and lifetime depressive episodes and suicidality. Substance use disorder, depression, family support, and quality of life in two groups were also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About 7.8% (n = 35) scored 24 or higher of ASRS indicating highly likely Adult ADHD. More heroin-dependent patients of ADHD-P had a current depressive episode (p = .02). They had higher Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CESD) scores (p = .003), and more severe heroin dependence (p = .006). Poorer family support and quality of life in physical, and psychological domains were found in patients of ADHD-P compared to ADHD-N.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Heroin-dependent patients of ADHD-P represent a vulnerable minority. They were comorbid with regard to depression, greater substance dependence severity, and poorer quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Assessment for ADHD symptoms in heroin-dependent patients may be indicated for the effective management of the complex problems of these patients. (Am J Addict 2017;26:26-33).
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.|School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yin-To
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Tsaotun Psychiatric Center, Nantou, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chi-Yen
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Tsaotun Psychiatric Center, Nantou, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mei-Hing
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: School of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuo-You
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Tsaotun Psychiatric Center, Nantou, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Chuan
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Tsaotun Psychiatric Center, Nantou, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tsang-Yaw
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Chang Gung University, Kwei-shan, Taiwan.|Chang Gung Medical Foundation, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Vincent Chin-Hung
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gossop
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult