Abstract

TORALES, J  and  FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS MEDICAS, UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE ASUNCION. Departamento de Psiquiatría de la Infancia y la Adolescencia et al. Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents admitted to a center for treatment of addictions. An. Fac. Cienc. Méd. (Asunción) [online]. 2014, vol.47, n.2, pp.33-40. ISSN 1816-8949.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder is the most common psychiatric disorder in school age and multiple studies have shown that it is an independent risk factor for developing abuse or dependence on nicotine, alcohol or other substances. The main objective of this research is to determine the frequency of this disorder and other externalizing disorders in children and adolescents admitted to a referral center, and the impact of these diseases on schooling and early onset of substance use, characterization of addictive behaviors and patient profile. Subjects and Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional descriptive study. The medical records of all children and adolescents admitted to a referral center during the months of June and July 2013 were analyzed, all of them diagnosed with substance-use disorder. Structured interviews were carry out, for the diagnoses of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder and externalizing disorders. Results: The presence of comorbid attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder in 40% of the patients was determined; and comorbidity with antisocial disorder was found in 95% patients. Patients with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder presented themselves with more difficulties in schooling and early onset of substance abuse. Conclusion: Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder is often minimized in its symptoms and mainly in the possible negative consequences for the patients; if the diagnosis is not done in an early way, it would not be possible to stablish a good therapeutic approach for the child and adolescent. Keywords: attention deficit, hyperactivity, substance abuse, children and adolescents.

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