Prevalence of co-occurring conditions among youths receiving treatment with primary anxiety, ADHD, or depressive disorder diagnoses

• Main Authors: Orrin D. Ware (Author), Lisa D. Zerden (Author), Jacquelynn F. Duron (Author), Yanfeng Xu (Author), Lauren P. McCarthy (Author), Sarah Verbiest (Author), Jenny Afkinich (Author), Qiana Brown (Author), Denise Yookong Williams (Author), Trenette Goings (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A., 2024-04-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

IntroductionAnxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are some of the most common conditions that youths (<18 years old) receive mental health treatment for. These conditions are associated with high-risk substance use or substance use disorders (SUDs). This study sought to identify the proportion of youths (<18 years old) with anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, or ADHD as a primary diagnosis in community mental health centers (CMHCs) having co-occurring high-risk substance use or a SUD.MethodsAnalysis included binary logistic regression models using the Mental Health Client-Level Data 2017-2019 datasets which contains annual cross-sectional administrative data from mental health treatment facilities. The final sample included n = 458,888 youths with an anxiety disorder as a primary diagnosis, n = 570,388 youths with a depressive disorder as a primary diagnosis, and n = 945,277 youths with ADHD as a primary diagnosis.ResultsIn the subsample with anxiety as a primary diagnosis, approximately 5% of youth had high-risk substance use or a SUD. Approximately 10% of youth with depression as a primary diagnosis had high-risk substance use or a SUD. Among youth with ADHD as a primary diagnosis, 5% had high-risk substance use or a SUD. Odds of having a co-occurring high-risk substance use or SUD differed based on the youth's age, race and ethnicity, gender, and other mental health diagnoses.ConclusionsEffective care for this high-need youth population at CMHCs will require mental health clinicians to possess knowledge and skills related to substance use treatment.

Item Description

2813-4540
10.3389/frcha.2024.1340480