Abstract
This study examines the demographic and clinical correlates and time course of depressive symptoms among abstinent adolescents with substance use disorders (SUD) during residential treatment. Fifty-six adolescents were administered the Beck Depression Inventory at Weeks 1, 3, and 5 of residential treatment for SUD. Clinically significant depression persisted in a substantial minority at the time of discharge. Shorter length of stay patients reported higher baseline scores and a significant decline by Week 3. Longer length of stay patients showed significant decline in scores only at Week 5. Females, Caucasians, and high frequency cocaine/opiates users had elevated depressive symptoms, while those with shorter duration of abstinence did not.
Notes
From the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md. (Drs. Subramaniam, Stitzer and Fishman); and Mountain Manor Treatment Center, Baltimore, Md. (Drs. Subramaniam and Fishman and Ms. Lewis).