Self-Reported Co-Morbidity of Depression, ADHD, and Alcohol/Substance Use Disorders in Male Youth Offenders Residing in an Alternative Sentencing Program

Abstract

Self-reports of previous diagnoses of depression (24.8%), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD, 19.5%), and/or a substance use disorder (30.6%) were obtained in male youth offenders (N = 159), aged 13 to 18 years. The correlates of individual as well as co-morbid mental health diagnoses were investigated. As predicted, male youth offenders self-reporting any of these disorders had more negative self-concepts than male youth offenders not self-reporting any of these disorders. Youth indicating an ADHD diagnosis were significantly more hopeless than youth without an ADHD diagnosis. Youth offenders reporting any two of the psychological disorders (i.e., co-morbidity) were more likely to have negative self-concepts, and increased hopelessness and symptomology on intake than youth reporting no or one disorder. The treatment implications of these findings for adolescents in alternative sentencing programs in the juvenile justice system were then explored.

Key Words:

• Adolescents
• mental health
• comorbidity
• delinquency