Epidemiology of psychological development disorders in adolescents: use of alcohol and other drugs

Abstract

Objective: to identify the personal and clinical characteristics of adolescents alcohol and other drugs’ users with PsychologicalDevelopment Disorders. Methods: this retrospective study analyzes the care of the Psychosocial Care III Center. Results: fromthe 415 adolescents treated, 52.3% were female; 89.9% were between 12 to 14 years old, 51.6% attended by court order,28.2% had “Unspecified Disorder of Psychological Development”; 32.3% used multiple drugs. Being between 12 and 14 yearsof age meant 2.5 and 1.5 times more risk of having Psychological Development Disorders, respectively. Cocaine/crack userswere more likely (4.27 times) to receive the diagnosis of “Psychoactive Substance Use.” Conclusion: adolescents are treated inaccordance with the law, which requires treatment for social living inadequacies due to high use of cannabinoids, and there isa difficulty of professionals in treating Psychological Development Disorders.