Florina Rad1, Alexandra Buică2, Mihaela Stancu2, Alecsandra Irimie-Ana2, Emanuela Andrei2, Dan Roşca3, Iuliana Dobrescu1. 1. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila", Bucharest, Romania - Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, "Prof. Dr.Alex. Obregia" Psychiatry Hospital, Bucharest, Romania. 2. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila", Bucharest, Romania. 3. Drug Addiction Department, "Prof. Dr. Alex. Obregia" Psychiatry Hospital, Bucharest, Romania.
Abstract
Background . Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has a high degree of heritability and recently has become a challenge not only for clinicians evaluating children and adolescents but also for adult psychiatrists. The latest studies and diagnostic manuals show that the ADHD symptoms are not "overgrown" in adulthood, the way they are expressed merely changes. METHODS: The present study investigates the presence of ADHD symptoms in a group of 104 adult patients admitted to psychiatric services, with chronic substance abuse. The subjects selected for the study were evaluated using the DIVA 2.0 instrument, a scale designed to diagnose ADHD in adulthood. RESULTS: The study results showed that 46% of the drug users, included in the study, have specific symptoms that can be diagnosed as ADHD in adults. Of the 54 subjects who met ADHD criteria in childhood, only 6 did not meet these criteria in adult life, resulting in 89% of ADHD patients maintaining symptoms in adulthood, causing dysfunction in certain life areas. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of ADHD diagnosis in the selected group, has been shown to increase the vulnerability of up to twice the chronic consumption of psychostimulants, an observation of great therapeutic and prophylactic importance for clinical practice. The research also confirms the fact revealed in the latest data from the international literature regarding the consumption of psychoactive substances from young ages, with multiple comorbidities and recurrent behavioral disorders secondary to drug use and major difficulties in following the recommendations of treatment and to get the remission that put their mark on the failure of education and personal development.
Background . Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has a high degree of heritability and recently has become a challenge not only for clinicians evaluating children and adolescents but also for adult psychiatrists. The latest studies and diagnostic manuals show that the ADHD symptoms are not "overgrown" in adulthood, the way they are expressed merely changes. METHODS: The present study investigates the presence of ADHD symptoms in a group of 104 adult patients admitted to psychiatric services, with chronic substance abuse. The subjects selected for the study were evaluated using the DIVA 2.0 instrument, a scale designed to diagnose ADHD in adulthood. RESULTS: The study results showed that 46% of the drug users, included in the study, have specific symptoms that can be diagnosed as ADHD in adults. Of the 54 subjects who met ADHD criteria in childhood, only 6 did not meet these criteria in adult life, resulting in 89% of ADHDpatients maintaining symptoms in adulthood, causing dysfunction in certain life areas. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of ADHD diagnosis in the selected group, has been shown to increase the vulnerability of up to twice the chronic consumption of psychostimulants, an observation of great therapeutic and prophylactic importance for clinical practice. The research also confirms the fact revealed in the latest data from the international literature regarding the consumption of psychoactive substances from young ages, with multiple comorbidities and recurrent behavioral disorders secondary to drug use and major difficulties in following the recommendations of treatment and to get the remission that put their mark on the failure of education and personal development.