Dual Diagnosis and Psychopathological Behaviors in Youth with Stimulant Use Disorder in a Therapeutic Community
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Abstract
Introduction: dual diagnosis (DD), defined as the co-occurrence of substance use disorders and other mental disorders, represents a significant clinical and public health challenge due to its impact on quality of life and treatment outcomes. Although this phenomenon has been widely documented, limited attention has been paid to the specific role of stimulant use and the developmental stage of adolescence in shaping its clinical presentation.
Objective: this study explored differences in sociodemographic characteristics, patterns of stimulant use, and psychopathological behaviors among individuals aged 13 to 25 with a stimulant use disorder—categorized as having either dual diagnosis or a single diagnosis.
Method: a cross-sectional study was conducted based on a retrospective review of clinical records (n = 125) from a therapeutic community (TC) in Mexico.
Results: eighty-six of 125 residents (68.8%) met the study’s operational definition of dual diagnosis, and methamphetamine was the most frequently recorded primary substance. The most frequently identified mental disorders were depressive disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, and anxiety disorders. Differences were also observed between residents with SD and DD in the documentation of psychopathological behaviors, particularly impulsivity, self-harming behaviors, and suicidal behaviors.
Discussion and conclusions: these findings underscore the importance of accurately characterizing DD in clinical settings. They highlight the importance of developing comprehensive intervention strategies that address the structural complexity of dual diagnosis, while also accounting for the neurodevelopmental specificity of adolescence.
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