INFLUENCES ON ADOLESCENT SUBSTANCE DEPENDENCE - CONDUCT DISORDER, DEPRESSION, ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER, AND GENDER

Objective: In adolescents, conduct disorder (CD), attention deficit hy peractivity disorder (ADHD), and depression are frequently comorbid wi th substance dependence (SD). We hypothesized that the prevalence and severity of CD, major depressive disorder (MDD), and ADHD would differ by gender, and that these conditions would associate differentially w ith severity of SD in males and females. Method: We examined these iss ues, using standardized diagnostic interviews, in 285 male and 82 fema le adolescents referred for comorbid CD and SD. Results: Males and fem ales did not differ significantly in severity of substance involvement , MDD, or ADHD, but males had more severe CD. MDD severity was the onl y variable significantly associated with SD severity for females, whil e for males, severity of CD combined with MDD and ADHD was significant ly associated with SD severity. Conclusions: Among referred adolescent s, CD, MDD, and ADHD may all be important concomitants of SD in males, while in females, depression may be the primary variable related to S D. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.