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Objective: Psychiatric comorbidity and impaired emotional functioning have been previously reported in adult substance abusers and adult attention-deficit /hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) but have been less well documented in adolescents. Thus, we investigated mental health problems and emotion regulation abilities in adolescents with substance use disorders.
Methods: 16 drug addicts (DA) and 16 healthy controls completed a battery of self -reports that is used for measuring depression (Beck Depression Inventory), anxiety( STAI-T, STAI-S, Beck Anxiety Scale), impulsivity (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale),emotional regulation ability (The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), ADHD characteristics (Turgay Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders Scale(which reported by family) and addiction severity (operator form of Addiction Index Profile- for adolescents (bapi-e)).
Results: Mean age of abusers was 16,06 and age of onset of substance was 13. Current axis I disorders among participants are depression (n=9, 56%), conduct disorder (n=5, 29.4%) and ADHD (n=3, %18.8). Average score of bapi-e was 5.42 which shows high addiction severity. Most common substances used by abusers were respectively cannabis and volatile substances. Average total DERS score was 104 in substance users although 82,3 in control group, mean subscale scores in order of substance users and healthy control group were; goals:17.5-14.8, strategy:22.31-17.1, non-acceptance:12.37-10.68, impulse:17.93-14.8, clarity:13.81- 10, awareness:18.62-15.68.
Conclusion: In substance users’ total DERS score and subscale scores about strategies, impulsivity, awareness were significantly higher than those of age and gender matched healthy control group. These results suggesting increased emotional dysregulation in substance abuse disorder are consistent with findings in research of adult emotional regulation in substance abuse disorders.