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Clinical Features of ADHD: An Assessment of Suicide Risk and Substance Abuse

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2020

G. Giordano ,
G. Falcone ,
A. Nardella ,
D. Erbuto ,
M. Migliorati ,
M. Innamorati ,
P. Girardi  and
M. Pompili
G. Falcone
Affiliation:
S. Andrea Hospital, NESMOS Department Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, School of Medicine and Psychology, Rome, Italy
A. Nardella
Affiliation:
S. Andrea Hospital, NESMOS Department Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, School of Medicine and Psychology, Rome, Italy
D. Erbuto
Affiliation:
S. Andrea Hospital, NESMOS Department Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, School of Medicine and Psychology, Rome, Italy
M. Migliorati
Affiliation:
S. Andrea Hospital, NESMOS Department Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, School of Medicine and Psychology, Rome, Italy
M. Innamorati
Affiliation:
S. Andrea Hospital, NESMOS Department Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, School of Medicine and Psychology, Rome, Italy
P. Girardi
Affiliation:
S. Andrea Hospital, NESMOS Department Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, School of Medicine and Psychology, Rome, Italy
M. Pompili
Affiliation:
S. Andrea Hospital, NESMOS Department Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, School of Medicine and Psychology, Rome, Italy

Abstract

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Introduction

Several studies show that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may persist into adulthood, increasing the risk of antisocial behaviour, drug abuse, psychiatric comorbidities, aggressive behaviour, social impairment and suicide risk.

Objectives

Analyze correlations among ADHD, substances abuse, alcoholism and suicide risk.

Aim

The aim of our study is to better understand the clinical features of ADHD during adulthood.

Methods

We analyzed the presence of ADHD symptoms, suicide risk and levels of hopelessness, alcoholism and substance abuse in a sample of 50 (40% males) in/outpatients of S. Andrea Hospital in Rome, between February and May 2016. We administered the following scales: Adult-Self Report Scale (ASRS), Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST), Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST).

Results

In our sample of 50 adult patients, 20% had ADHD symptoms (10 subjects). We found that those with ADHD showed more frequently death desires (85.7%; χ2 = 1.31; P = 0.25) and higher levels of hopelessness (66.7%; χ2 = 0.83; P = =0.36) if compared to subjects without ADHD symptoms (respectively 63% and 45.8%). In the overall group of ADHD patients, 10% showed severe alcoholism, 20% (χ2 = 1.39; P = 0.49) had a borderline behavior, whereas 40% presented a substance abuse (χ2 = 1.75; P = 0.18).

Conclusions

ADHD may represent a psychiatric disorder with an increased suicide risk. It would be important to screen for suicidality and comorbid symptoms routinely in ADHD in order to improve the treatment of the patients.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Type
e-Poster Walk: Suicidology and suicide prevention – part 1
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 41 , Issue S1: Abstract of the 25th European Congress of Psychiatry , April 2017 , pp. S294
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2017
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