Do Childhood Mental Health Disorders Increase the Risk for Addiction?

Childhood mental health disorders, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), are associated with an increased risk of developing substance-related disorders, according to a recent meta-analysis.

In the meta-analysis, researchers examined longitudinal studies, published from 1986 to May 2016, that described childhood ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) or conduct disorder (CD), anxiety disorder, or depression in relation to later alcohol-, nicotine-, or drug-related disorders or substance use disorders.
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Thirty-seven studies were included in the final analysis, with over 762,187 participants: 22,029 patients diagnosed with ADHD, 434 patients diagnosed with ODD or CD, 1433 patients diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, and 2,451 patients diagnosed with depression.

The researchers found that patients diagnosed with ADHD, ODD or CD, and depression had a significantly increased risk for addition. However, an increased risk for addiction was not associated with anxiety disorders.

“Childhood ADHD, ODD, CD, and depression increase the risk of developing substance-related disorders,” the researchers concluded. “Anxiety disorders do not seem to increase the risk for future substance-related disorders, although the findings are highly heterogeneous.”

“These findings emphasize the need for early detection and intervention to prevent debilitating substance-related disorders in later life.”

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Groenman AP, Janssen TWP, Oosterlaan J. Childhood psychiatric disorders as risk factor for subsequent substance abuse: a meta-analysis [published online May 11, 2017]. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2017.05.004.