1. CHILDHOOD ATTENTION DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE: A 1-YEAR FOLLOW-UP
- Author
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Eyüp Sabri Ercan, Azmi Varan, Hakan Coskunol, and Kaan Toksöz
- Subjects
Adult ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Alcohol abuse ,Alcohol ,behavioral disciplines and activities ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,mental disorders ,medicine ,Humans ,Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ,Psychiatry ,Chi-Square Distribution ,Alcohol dependence ,Age Factors ,General Medicine ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test ,Comorbidity ,Alcoholism ,chemistry ,Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ,Age of onset ,Psychology ,Chi-squared distribution ,Follow-Up Studies - Abstract
Aims: To investigate the onset and outcome of alcohol dependence in subjects with childhood attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a Turkish sample. Methods: Among patients being treated for alcohol dependence, 15 had a history of childhood ADHD (ADHD (+)) and 45 did not (ADHD (-)). ADHD history was assessed according to DSM-IV criteria by a child and adolescent psychiatrist who interviewed the subjects and their close relatives. Severity of dependence was measured by the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test. Subjects were followed up for 1 year for the assessment of relapse. Results: The age of onset for alcohol drinking, alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence were significantly lower in the ADHD (+) group than in the ADHD (-) group. Comorbid substance use was more prevalent in the ADHD (+) group. The study found no significant difference in the severity of alcohol dependence between ADHD (+) and ADHD (-) groups. During follow-up, 80% of the ADHD (+) subjects relapsed, compared with 55.6% in the ADHD (-) group. Relapse occurred on average 2.74 months earlier in the ADHD (+) group than in the ADHD (-) group. Conclusions: As found in other countries, alcohol dependence in Turkish subjects with childhood ADHD starts early and is relatively resistant to treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment of ADHD might help prevent alcohol- and substance-related disorders.
- Published
- 2003