Psychiatric Comorbidity Among Adolescents with Substance Use Disorder

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) in adolescents, is a condition in which the use of one or more substances leads to clinically significant impairment or distress. It is a significant public health problem globally with a higher burden in low and middle-income countries. To find out the frequency and pattern of psychiatric comorbidity among the adolescents with Substance Use Disorder. This descriptive and observational study was conducted in the Department of Psychiatry, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh from March 2016 to September 2018. The present study aimed at assessing the presence of comorbid psychiatric disorders among adolescents with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) included a total of 70 adolescents. Over half (60%) of the respondents were 15 years age. The mean age of the respondents was 13.2 ± 2.1 years, and the range was 11-17 years. About 50% of the adolescents interviewed had Tobacco Use Disorder (51.4%), followed by Cannabis Use Disorder (47.1%). Among the respondents, 22.8% had no psychiatric illness. The overall psychiatric disorders among adolescents were 77.1% (54 out of 70). Most of the patients (45.7%) had more than one psychiatric disorder diagnosed. Regarding the specific disorder diagnosed Conduct Disorder was 31.4% and different socio-demographic features. Based on the findings of the study, it can be concluded that adolescents with SUD have a high rate of other comorbid psychiatric disorders.