Analysis of Substance Use and Mental Disorder Diagnoses in Adolescents with a History of Delinquency: a Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate substance use and comorbid mental disorders in delinquent adolescents presenting to a child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinic. This study included 47 adolescents aged 15–18 years and had a history of delinquency. Data were collected using the Addiction Profile Index Adolescent Form (API-A) and an information form. Results indicated that the adolescents’ mean age is 16.11 ± 1.05 years, 78.7% had committed crimes against property and 34.0% against the person, and 34.0% were also victims of crime. Mean API-A total scores indicated that their level of substance use was low. In addition, mean API-A total scores showed significant differences according to the adolescents’ migration status, age, economic status, school attendance, mental disorder diagnosis, duration of mental disorder, and type of offense (p < 0.05). The benefit provided by timely and appropriate psychosocial interventions may have a key role in solving this problem for adolescents and improving their future as adults.