Ethnic Differences in Comorbidity Among Substance-Abusing Adolescents Referred to Outpatient Therapy

• NCJ Number: 194471
• Journal: Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 41 Issue: 4 Dated: April 2002 Pages: 394-401
• Author(s): Michael S. Robbins Ph.D.; Sameet Kumar M.S.; Chanequa Walker-Barnes Ph.D.; Daniel J. Feaster Ph.D.; Ervin Briones Ph.D.; Jose Szapocznik Ph.D.
• Date Published: April 2002
• Length: 8 pages
• Grant Number(s): 1R01 10574
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study investigated differences in psychiatric comorbidity between African-American and Hispanic substance-abusing adolescents referred for outpatient therapy.

Abstract

The study sought to determine whether the high rates of comorbid disorders among substance-abusing youths in outpatient settings generalized to African-American and Hispanic adolescents. Participants were 167 substance-abusing adolescents and their family members who completed an intake assessment. As part of the assessment, all participants were administered a diagnostic interview to screen for the presence of nine psychiatric diagnoses. The study provides further evidence of the extent of co-occurring diagnoses among adolescent substance abusers. Hispanics presented with significantly higher rates of above-threshold symptoms for externalizing disorders than did African-Americans. The study suggests further research to determine whether there is a basic difference between ethnic groups in the constellation of behavior problem symptoms or if it reflects a bias in the way youths are referred to outpatient treatment. Tables, references