A Bad Start: The Combined Effects of Early Onset Substance Use and ADHD and CD on Criminality Patterns, Substance Abuse and Psychiatric Comorbidity among Young Violent Offenders

Substance abuse, conduct disorder (CD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are all known risk factors for developing aggressive behaviors, criminality, other psychiatric comorbidity and substance use disorders (SUD). Since early age of onset is important for aggravating the impact of several of these risk factors, the aim of the present study was to investigate whether young adult violent offenders with different patterns of early onset externalizing problems (here: substance use < age 15, ADHD, CD) had resulted in different criminality profiles, substance use problem profiles and psychiatric comorbidity in young adult age. A mixed-method approach was used, combining a variable-oriented approach (with Kruskal Wallis tests) and a person-oriented approach (with Configural frequency analysis). Overall, this combined approach indicated that persons with combined ADHD+CD and persons with CD + early onset of substance use had a more varied history of violent crimes, a more comprehensive history of aggressive behaviors in general, and more psychiatric comorbidity, as well as more varied SUD and destructive substance abuse in adult age, than persons without ADHD, CD or early SU. Results are in line with previous variable-oriented research, but also indicate that individuals in this group with heavy problem aggregation early in life have a wider spectrum of problems in young adult age. Importantly, among these young violent offenders, problem aggregation was the overwhelming norm, and not the exception, as in studies of the general population. This emphasizes the need for early coordinated interventions, but also that treatment within correctional facilities in adult age needs to be comprehensive and take individual patterns of comorbidity into account.

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Assessing Pediatric and Young Adult Substance Use Through Analysis of Prehospital Data

Prehospital and Disaster Medicine ◽

10.1017/s1049023x1400079x ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 29 (5) ◽

pp. 468-472 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Elizabeth L. Seaman ◽

Mathew J. Levy ◽

J. Lee Jenkins ◽

Cassandra Chiras Godar ◽

Kevin G. Seaman

Keyword(s):

Substance Abuse ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Substance Use ◽

Young Adult ◽

Prescription Drugs ◽

Illicit Drugs ◽

Older Adolescents ◽

History Of ◽

Secondary Hypothesis ◽

Primary Hypothesis

AbstractIntroductionSubstance use in young adults is a significant and growing problem. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel often encounter this problem, yet the use of prehospital data to evaluate the prevalence and magnitude of substance abuse has been limited.Hypothesis/ProblemThis study evaluated drug and alcohol use through the use of prehospital and EMS data in one suburban county in Maryland (USA). The primary hypothesis was that the type of drug being abused is associated with age. The secondary hypothesis was substance abuse incidence is associated with location. The tertiary hypothesis was that substance abuse is associated with a history of mental illness.MethodsDeidentified patient care reports (PCRs) were obtained during a 24-month period from October 2010 through September 2012 for patients 0 through 25 years of age. Inclusion criteria included chief complaint of alcohol overdose, drug overdose, or the use of naloxone.ResultsThe primary hypothesis was supported that age was associated with drug category (P < .001). Younger adolescents were more likely to use household items, prescription drugs, or over-the-counter drugs, whereas older adolescents were more likely to use illicit drugs. The secondary hypothesis was supported that both alcohol (P < .001) and drugs (P < .001) were associated with location of call. Calls involving alcohol were more likely to be at a home or business, whereas calls involving drugs were more likely to be at home or at a public venue. The tertiary hypothesis was supported that both alcohol (P = .001) and drug use (P < .001) were associated with history of mental illness. Older adolescents were more likely to report a history of mental illness. Chi-squared tests indicated there were significant differences between genders and drug category (P = .002) and gender and current suicide attempt (P = .004). Females were more likely to use prescription drugs, whereas males were more likely to use illicit drugs. Calls involving younger adolescents under 18 were more likely to be at school or the mall, whereas calls involving older adolescents were likely to be at a prison, public venue, or a business.ConclusionAll three hypotheses were supported: the type of substance being abused was associated with both age and location, and substance abuse was associated with a history of mental illness. This research has important implications for understanding how EMS resources are utilized for substance use. This information is valuable in not only the education and training of prehospital care providers, but also for the targeting of future public health interventions.SeamanEL, LevyMJ, JenkinsJL, GodarCC, SeamanKG. Assessing pediatric and young adult substance use through analysis of prehospital data. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2014;29(4):1-6.

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Characteristics of young, violent offenders

The Journal of Psychiatry & Law ◽

10.1177/009318538301100203 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 137-149 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Alayne Yates ◽

Larry E. Beutler ◽

Marjorie Crago

Keyword(s):

Emotionally Disturbed ◽

Learning Disabled ◽

Violent Offenders ◽

Semistructured Interviews ◽

Collective Group ◽

History Of ◽

Contrast Group ◽

Early Relationships ◽

Young Violent Offenders ◽

School Records

Three groups of young, violent, incarcerated male offenders were compared through an analysis of semistructured interviews. These 339 young offenders described the early relationships with their fathers as more important than the early relationships with their mothers. Person offenders were relatively similar to murderers but, compared to this collective group of violent offenders, property offenders had a history of more severely impaired relationships and were more likely to have been labeled as emotionally disturbed or as learning disabled in school records. This study emphasizes the importance of considering ethnicity and of including a property offender contrast group in studies of young violent offenders.

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Substance Use, Substance Abuse, and LD Among Adolescents with a Childhood History of ADHD

Journal of Learning Disabilities ◽

10.1177/002221940103400408 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 34 (4) ◽

pp. 333-342 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Brooke S. G. Molina ◽

William E. Pelham

Keyword(s):

Substance Abuse ◽

Substance Use ◽

History Of

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Identifying factors associated with the discharge of male State patients from Weskoppies Hospital

South African Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v23i0.1083 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 23 ◽

Author(s):

Riaan G. Prinsloo ◽

Andre Swanepoel ◽

Gian Lippi

Keyword(s):

Substance Abuse ◽

Substance Use ◽

Length Of Stay ◽

Substance Use Disorder ◽

Physical Aggression ◽

Hospital Data ◽

Related Factors ◽

Term Care ◽

Factors Associated ◽

History Of

Background: Designated psychiatric facilities are responsible for the care, treatment and reintegration of State patients. The necessary long-term care places a considerable strain on health-care resources. Resource use should be optimised while managing the risks that patients pose to themselves and the community. Identifying unique factors associated with earlier discharge may decrease the length of stay. Factors associated with protracted inpatient care without discharge could identify patients who require early and urgent intervention.Aim: We identify socio-economic, demographic, psychiatric and charge-related factors associated with the discharge of male State patients.Methods: We reviewed the files of discharged and admitted forensic State patients at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital. Data were captured in an electronic recording sheet. The association between factors and the outcome measure (discharged vs. admitted) was determined using chi-squared tests and Fischer’s exact tests.Results: Discharged State patients were associated with being a primary caregiver (p = 0.031) having good insight into illness (p = 0.025) or offence (p = 0.005) and having had multiple successful leaves of absences. A lack of substance abuse during admission (p = 0.027), an absence of a diagnosis of substance use disorder (p = 0.013) and the absence of verbal and physical aggression (p = 0.002 and p = 0.016) were associated with being discharged. Prolonged total length of stay (9–12 years, p = 0.031) and prolonged length of stay in open wards (6–9 years, p = 0.000) were associated with being discharged. A history of previous offences (p = 0.022), a diagnosis of substance use disorder (p = 0.023), recent substance abuse (p = 0.018) and a history of physical aggression since admission (p = 0.017) were associated with continued admission.Conclusion: Discharge of State patients is associated with an absence of substance abuse, lack of aggression, multiple successful leave of absences and length of stay in hospital.

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Sociodemographic, clinical and personal characteristics of patients with borderline personality disorder in a public general hospital in Lima, Peru during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic

BJPsych Open ◽

10.1192/bjo.2021.198 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (S1) ◽

pp. S57-S58

Author(s):

Glauco Valdivieso

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Family History ◽

Secondary School ◽

El Salvador ◽

Psychiatric Comorbidity ◽

Borderline Personality ◽

Psychiatric Interview ◽

Personal Variables ◽

Psychopharmacological Treatment ◽

History Of

AimsTo describe the main characteristics of adolescent and adult patients with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) treated in Emergency and Hospitalization services of Villa El Salvador Emergency Hospital during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Lima, Peru.MethodAn analysis of 17 cases of patients with BPD according to DSM 5 criteria was carried out in SISGALEN PLUS software database that have been evaluated in the Emergency and Hospitalization areas during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sociodemographic, clinical and personal variables were taken into account. A descriptive analysis of frequencies and proportions was carried out in SPSS 24.0 software.ResultRegarding sociodemographic variables, the average age was 27.47 (SD = 11.242), 82.4% single, 88.2% female, 52.9% from Villa El Salvador, 82.4% catholics, 76.5% have completed secondary school and 47.1% were housewives. For clinical variables, 64.7% located in the Emergency Service, 58.8% had no current diagnosis of COVID-19, 64.7% without medical comorbidity, 35.3% without psychiatric comorbidity, 52.9% with suicide attempt as the main reason for consultation, 52.9% without regular use of medications, 88.2% with psychopharmacological treatment; 70.6% received a psychiatric interview intervention; Regarding symptoms, all presented interpersonal problems, impulsivity, emotional instability and inappropriate anger, while 58.8% had alteration of identity and 94.1% had suicidality. For personal variables, 82.4% had no family history, 88.2% had no history of abuse or trauma, 52.9% had a history of substance use, and 88.2% had no previous hospitalizations.ConclusionThe most of patients with BPD were young adults, women, single, from Villa El Salvador, catholics, completed secondary school, housewives, from Emergency, no diagnosis of COVID-19, without medical or psychiatric comorbidity, consulted for suicide attempt, without habitual use of medications, with indicated psychopharmacological treatment, a psychiatric interview was conducted, they had active symptoms, history of substance use and no family history, abuse or hospitalizations.

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Meaning-Making of Motherhood Among Mothers With Substance Abuse Problems

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.679586 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Siu-ming To ◽

Ming-wai Yan ◽

Cheryl Danielle Lau

Keyword(s):

Substance Abuse ◽

Substance Use ◽

Parental Stress ◽

Meaning Making ◽

Internal Conflict ◽

Individual Interviews ◽

History Of ◽

Situational Meaning ◽

Future Direction ◽

And Coping

Previous literature has documented the unique challenges encountered by mothers with substance abuse problems, which may hinder the ability to fulfill parenting responsibilities. Since there is evidence suggesting the engagement in meaning-making processes can help individuals reinterpret their transitions into parenthood and cope with parental stress, this study examined the meaning-making processes of motherhood among mothers with substance abuse problems. Sixteen Hong Kong Chinese mothers with a history of substance abuse were purposively selected and invited to narrate their life and maternal experiences in individual interviews. Based on the meaning-making model in the context of stress and coping, whereby global meaning refers to orienting system of an individual and situational meaning refers to the meaning one attributes to a particular situation, the global and situational meanings of participants related to motherhood and substance use, and their reappraised meanings in response to the discrepancies between global and situational meanings were analyzed. Using thematic analysis, the results showed that when faced with an internal conflict between global and situational meanings induced by substance abuse, most participants engaged in the meaning-making process of assimilation. Rather than changing their inherent parental beliefs and values, most participants adjusted their appraisals toward the situation, and hence made changes in their cognitions or behaviors such as making efforts to quit substance use or reprioritizing their parenting responsibilities. The analysis further revealed that being a mother provided a significant source of meaning to the participants in confronting highly stressful mothering experiences induced by substance abuse. Altogether, the findings suggest that a meaning-making approach may have benefits and implications for helping this population reorganize their self-perceptions, gain a clearer sense of future direction in motherhood, and achieve more positive life and parenting outcomes.

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