Background and Objectives
Adult attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is frequent in patients with substance use disorders (SUD), but information on its prevalence in high‐dose benzodiazepine (BZD) dependence is lacking. We estimated the prevalence of adult ADHD in a group of treatment‐seeking high‐dose BZD dependent patients according to a valid screening tool, and explored the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients that screened positive for ADHD (ADHD+) in comparison to those that screened negative (ADHD−).
Methods
We prospectively recruited 167 consecutive patients with high‐dose BZD dependence and screened them for adult ADHD with the World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self‐Report Scale version 1.1 (ASRS‐v1.1) Symptom Checklist Part A. We compared demographic and clinical characteristics in ADHD+ and ADHD− groups.
Results
Fifty‐three patients (31.7% of the sample) were positive to adult ADHD screening. ADHD+ patients showed a significantly larger prevalence of poly‐drug abuse than ADHD− ones. BZD formulation and active principle significantly differed between the two groups. The other clinical variables, including psychiatric comorbidity, as well as the demographic ones, did not differ in ADHD+ versus ADHD− comparison.
Discussion and Conclusions
Adult ADHD may be common in treatment‐seeking high‐dose BZD dependent patients according to ASRS‐v1.1 Symptom Checklist Part A.
Scientific Significance
Screening for ADHD in this type of SUD with this questionnaire is quick and may offer useful information for prognosis and treatment. (Am J Addict 2017;26:610–614)