Psychopathological consequences of introducing psychopharmacological treatment in patients with ADH with comorbidrug use. A preliminary study

Abstract

Introduction

There exists a high prevalence of SUD among patients suffering ADHD and the consequences of this comorbidity are that AHDH and SUD may exacerbate the outcome of SUD and vice versa. The presence of both disorders increases the risk of chronicity and the level and/or the number of symptoms.

The main objective is to evaluate how the introduction of treatment correlates with a better control of symptoms.

Material and methods

We select a group of patients with both diagnosis treated in a Mental Health Day Center in Pamplona, Spain.

We employ several scales to evaluate the sample: SCL-90, SF-36, Weiss Scale and a Scale of Satisfaction, in three times: at the beginning, one month and three months. We employ urinalysis to detect level and number of substances.

Results

The sample is comprised by 12 patients, main age of 42.6 years. 8 patients are cocaine addicts. The majority received Atomoxetine (main dosage 36.0 mg)

Our data shows an important decrease in the score of Neurotics groups of symptoms and Hostility. We observe a decrease in score of items correlated with physic health and an increase in emotional aspects of daily life.

Eight patients gets abstinence and the punctuation of craving decrease from 21 to 5.2.

The level of satisfaction with treatment was very high.

Conclusions

The psychopharmacological treatment of patients diagnosed of ADHD with comorbid SUD implies a great improvement in the symptomatology and quality of life of the patients, with a low level of craving.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.