Poster #49 - Adolescents With Substance use Disorder: Exploring Underlying Vulnerability Factors

• In Event: 3-206 - Poster Session 13
  In Poster Session: PS 13 Section - Developmental Psychopathology

Integrative Statement

Adolescence is a critical developmental period characterized by increased vulnerability to development of psychopathology symptoms (Steinberg, 2005; Eaton et al, 2008). Therefore, alcohol and substance use during adolescence, although commonly observed (VAD, 2013), poses a considerable risk of subsequent development of a substance use disorder (SUD). SUD has extremely detrimental effects on both the user and society (Bachman et al, 2008; Squelia et al, 2010; VAD, 2013), and identifying underlying vulnerability factors is crucial for effective preventive interventions. Previous research showed that problems in both attachment (e.g. Dosier, Stovall-McClough & Albus, 2008) and emotion regulation (e.g. Pickover et al., 2014, Weis et al., 2010) are associated with substance use among adolescents. Nevertheless, research integrating both attachment and emotion regulation in investigations of underlying factors in adolescents’ SUD is absent. Moreover, investigation of comorbidity, yet potentially very informative, is lacking as well due to being limited to non-clinical samples. So far, findings indicate that comorbidity has negative effect on individuals functioning, therapy compliance, treatment outcome, and prognosis (Hasin et al, 2002; Emmelkap & Vedel, 2007).
For those reasons, the current study explored the presence of comorbid psychiatric disorders and the relationship between attachment, emotion regulation and SUD in a sample of 43 adolescents between 14 and 18 years old (M= 16.22, SD = .89), who are institutionalized in a residential SUD treatment center. Adolescents filled out three self-report questionnaires to assess attachment (i.e. attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance), emotion regulation (i.e. use of adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies) and the severity of the suffering associated with the SUD (i.e. depressive symptoms). Furthermore, the semi- Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorder For Children (SCID-Junior) was used to assess the number and severity of present psychiatric problems. First, the results of the comorbidity were reported as descriptive statistics. Second, the associations between attachment, emotion regulation and SUD were analyzed using univariate regression analysis.
Results showed that more than 75% adolescents with SUD are diagnosed with at least one other psychiatric disorder (with most common the disruptive, impulse control- and behavior disorder). Next, adolescents with SUD reported more attachment anxiety (40.5%), compared to attachment avoidance (18.5%) and rather a lack of adaptive emotion regulation strategies (20%) compared to the overuse of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies (7.5%). No significant associations were found between attachment, emotion regulation and SUD. However, additional analyses indicate that there is an important relationship with the reported depressive symptoms, reflecting the suffering associated with the SUD. More specifically, findings showed that girls, compared to boys with SUD, report significantly more depressive symptoms. Furthermore, results showed that the use of emotion regulation strategies is also associated with the suffering. Surprisingly, only the use of adaptive emotion regulation strategies is negative related, while the use of maladaptive strategies is not.
These findings have important implications which have to be considered when examining underlying factors or developing prevention- or intervention programs for adolescents with SUD.

Authors

• Brenda Volkaert, Ghent University
  Presenting Author

• Marie-Lotte Van Beveren, Ghent University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Eva Van Malderen, Ghent University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Pascale Leclerq, Residentieel Kortdurend Jongerenprogramma (RKJ) Eeklo
  Non-Presenting Author

• Joris Cracco, Residentieel Kortdurend Jongerenprogramma (RKJ) Eeklo
  Non-Presenting Author

• Caroline Braet, Ghent University
  Non-Presenting Author