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The mental health of adolescents and young people experiencing traumatic stress and problematic substance use.

Peach, Natalie ; Barrett, Emma ; Cobham, Vanessa ; Ross, Joanne ; Perrin, Sean LU orcid ; Bendall, Sarah ; Back, Sudie ; Brady, Kathleen ; Teeson, Maree and Mills, Katherine (2022) In Drug and Alcohol Review 41. p.16-17
Abstract
Introduction and Aims: Up to 80% of adolescents have experienced trauma and one-in-seven suffer from post­ traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For 50% of these adoles­cents, the course of their illness is further complicated by a co-occurring substance use disorder (SUD). Despite high rates of comorbidity, treatment options remain sparse and there is limited understanding of the clinical profile associated with this comorbidity. We aimed to examine the clinical profile of adolescents seeking treat­ment for their substance use and traumatic stress.
Method: Data were collected as part of a randomised controlled trial examining the efficacy of an integrated psychological treatment for SUD and PTSD among young people aged 12-25 years were... (More)
Introduction and Aims: Up to 80% of adolescents have experienced trauma and one-in-seven suffer from post­ traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For 50% of these adoles­cents, the course of their illness is further complicated by a co-occurring substance use disorder (SUD). Despite high rates of comorbidity, treatment options remain sparse and there is limited understanding of the clinical profile associated with this comorbidity. We aimed to examine the clinical profile of adolescents seeking treat­ment for their substance use and traumatic stress.
Method: Data were collected as part of a randomised controlled trial examining the efficacy of an integrated psychological treatment for SUD and PTSD among young people aged 12-25 years were assessed for history of trauma, PTSD, substance use and a variety of other domains relating to mental health, social and family functioning and service utilisation.
Results: Almost all participants met Diagnostic and Sta­tistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, cri­teria for a severe SUD. The most common substances of concern were cannabis and alcohol. All participants expe­rienced multiple traumatic events and >85% met Diag­nostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, criteria for PTSD. High levels of clinically ele­vated depression and anxiety were present in the sample and almost half had a history of attempted suicide.
Discussions and Conclusions: Comorbid PTSD and SUD in young people are associated with a complex and severe clinical profile. It is imperative to intervene early in the trajectory in order to prevent the severe and long­ lasting burden associated with this common comorbidity.
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author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
PTSD, Substance Abuse, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Adolescents, Young Adults
in
Drug and Alcohol Review
volume
41
pages
16 - 17
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:85138879085
  • pmid:36176067
ISSN
0959-5236
DOI
10.1111/dar.13537
project
Randomised controlled trial of an integrated cognitive-behavioural therapy for the treatment of co-occurring post traumatic stress disorder and substance use disorder in adolescents
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b80e98a1-9799-49f4-9821-646b139504a5
date added to LUP
2022-11-15 17:38:06
date last changed
2023-05-17 03:00:08
@misc{b80e98a1-9799-49f4-9821-646b139504a5,
  abstract     = {{Introduction and Aims: Up to 80% of adolescents have experienced trauma and one-in-seven suffer from post­ traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For 50% of these adoles­cents, the course of their illness is further complicated by a co-occurring substance use disorder (SUD). Despite high rates of comorbidity, treatment options remain sparse and there is limited understanding of the clinical profile associated with this comorbidity. We aimed to examine the clinical profile of adolescents seeking treat­ment for their substance use and traumatic stress.<br/>Method: Data were collected as part of a randomised controlled trial examining the efficacy of an integrated psychological treatment for SUD and PTSD among young people aged 12-25 years were assessed for history of trauma, PTSD, substance use and a variety of other domains relating to mental health, social and family functioning and service utilisation.<br/>Results: Almost all participants met Diagnostic and Sta­tistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, cri­teria for a severe SUD. The most common substances of concern were cannabis and alcohol. All participants expe­rienced multiple traumatic events and &gt;85% met Diag­nostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, criteria for PTSD. High levels of clinically ele­vated depression and anxiety were present in the sample and almost half had a history of attempted suicide.<br/>Discussions and Conclusions: Comorbid PTSD and SUD in young people are associated with a complex and severe clinical profile. It is imperative to intervene early in the trajectory in order to prevent the severe and long­ lasting burden associated with this common comorbidity.<br/>}},
  author       = {{Peach, Natalie and Barrett, Emma and Cobham, Vanessa and Ross, Joanne and Perrin, Sean and Bendall, Sarah and Back, Sudie and Brady, Kathleen and Teeson, Maree and Mills, Katherine}},
  issn         = {{0959-5236}},
  keywords     = {{PTSD; Substance Abuse; Cognitive Behavior Therapy; Adolescents; Young Adults}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  note         = {{Conference Abstract}},
  pages        = {{16--17}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Drug and Alcohol Review}},
  title        = {{The mental health of adolescents and young people experiencing traumatic stress and problematic substance use.}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/128549735/Peach_et_al._2022_The_mental_health_of_adolescents_and_young_people_experiencing_traumatic_stress_and_problematic_substance_use._Drug_Alcohold_Review.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/dar.13537}},
  volume       = {{41}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}