PSYCHIATRIC-SYMPTOMS IN ADOLESCENTS WHO ABUSE VOLATILE SUBSTANCES

Psychiatric symptoms and psychosocial variables were investigated in 5 4 adolescents who were abusing volatile substances (VS) and referred t o a child psychiatry clinic in an urban area of Southeast England. The y were compared to a group of adolescents who were referred to the cli nic for other reasons and who were not abusing volatile substances, ma tched for age, gender and area of residence. There were high rates of behavioral symptoms (mostly oppositional and delinquent), emotional sy mptoms (mostly depressive), and an abundance of adverse life events an d family dysfunction among the index group. Among VS abusers, girls te nded to show more emotional symptoms than boys. Compared to the contro l group, VS abusers were only more behaviorally disturbed. The clinica l implications of these findings are discussed.