Is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder more Common in Substance Dependency?

This project aimed to determine the frequency of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in patients with substance de-pendence. 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. 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). ADHD is correlated with substance dependency and early onset of substance use.