Long-term development of mood states and substance use in a Swiss cohort of youths at risk

Abstract

Background: Substance use and mental health disorders are strongly associated. The rates of co-morbidity vary according to the population and methodology used. However, it can be reasonably stated that co-morbidity is common and significant. Mental disorders, including depressive mood, anxiety and conduct disorders, are the most often mentioned predictors for substance use.

Aims: The main topic of interest is the interrelationship between mood and substance used over time in a cohort of adolescents and young adults.

Method: To explore the courses of mood and substance use in a cohort of 614 adolescents and young adults (aged 12–20) using grouping analysis. To determine empirical patterns of mood over time a cluster analysis (k-means) was performed. Four groups differing in their mood states over time (stable low; stable high; increaser; decreaser) were obtained.

Conclusions: There is an important relationship between mood states and substance use. Adolescents with mood disorder constantly use more drugs than adolescents with a normal mood range. However, there are other factors that influence substance use over time, such as age and socio-demographic background.

Keywords:

• adolescents
• mood disorders
• long-term observation
• substance use

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the participants in this study. We would also thank the Federal Office of Public health that made this research possible with the grant, ref. 04.000347.