Abstract

Objectives: This project aimed to determine the frequency of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in patients with substance de-pendence.

Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 patients with substance dependence who were referred to clinics of Iran Psychiatry Hospital between 2003-2004 and selected by available sampling.  Child Symptom Inventory (CSI) for ADHD, adult ADHD, and demographic questionnaire were completed for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods and c² test.

Results: Mean age of the clients was 31.8 (SD=9.4) with a range of 18-55 years, all of whom were men. Childhood ADHD was noted in 27% (3% attention deficit type, 16% hyperactive type, and 8% combined type) and adult ADHD was noted in 16% (7% attention deficit type, 3% hyperactive type and 6% combined type) of the subjects. Half (50%) of the clients had neither childhood nor adult ADHD diagnosis. The mean age of starting substance use was 18.3 years (SD=3.2) in patients with ADHD and 21.5 years (SD=5.1) in clients not affected by ADHD which were significantly different from one another (p<0.01).

Conclusion: ADHD is correlated with substance dependency and early onset of substance use.