GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIC OUTPATIENT SUBSTANCE USE- ASSOCIATED BEHAVIORS AND FEELINGS

Objective: To investigate gender differences in substance use and asso ciated high-risk behaviors and feeling states in 220 adolescent psychi atric outpatients. Method: One hundred seven females and 113 males wit h a mean age of 15.6 (SD +/- 1.4), seen in a tertiary care center adol escent psychiatry clinic, completed scales tapping substance use and a ssociated feelings and behaviors. Approximately half had used nicotine and alcohol, one third had used marijuana, and 10% reported narcotic use. Results: Conduct disorder behavior, suicidality, and Impulsivity scale scores decreased with age in females while marijuana use, conduc t disorder behavior, and Hypophoria scale scores increased with age in males. Alcohol use in males, as contrasted with females, correlated m ore significantly with other substance use and high-risk behaviors. Su icidality tended to correlate more with polysubstance use in females a nd with sexual behaviors in females only. Substance use correlated wit h the Impulsivity and Need scale scores in males and scores on the Soc iopathy scale in females. Conclusions: Substance use in males correlat es with high-risk behaviors and is associated with feelings of impulsi vity and need. Substance use correlates with self-destructive behavior s and sociopathic feelings in females. There is evidence of more persi stent high-risk behaviors, including substance use, in males than in f emales.