Mental Health and Substance Use Comorbidity Among Adolescents in Psychiatric Inpatient Hospitals: Prevalence and Covariates

This study examines the mental health (MH) and substance use (SU) diagnoses comorbidity in inpatient adolescents and explores the relationship between demographic and environmental covariates. It analyzes 2008 data of 9,154 adolescents ages 11 to 17 in psychiatric hospitals. Twenty-five percent of adolescents had dual diagnosis. Comorbidity differences between boys and girls occurred as they grew older. Boys with conduct disorder (CD) were 1.6 times more likely than girls with the same diagnosis to use alcohol. Hispanics with CD had 2 to 3.5 times increased risk of comorbidity. The study yields specificity in various MH and SU subgroups vital for prevention services and program planning.