Trait aggression, depression and suicidal behavior in drug dependent patients with and without ADHD symptoms.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate trait-aggression, depression and suicidal behavior of drug dependent patients with and without ADHD symptoms. The cross sectional survey was conducted in outpatient drug centers in Hungary. The Adult Self-Report Scale (ASRS), the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (AQ), the European Version of the ADolescent Assessment Dialogue (EuroADAD), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used for measures. GLM analyses, adjusting for age and gender, indicated that patients who screened positive for ADHD (ADHD+ group) had significantly higher severity of overall trait aggression, as well as physical and verbal aggression than patients who did not (ADHD negative group). The highest severity of aggression was observed when the ADHD+ status co-occurred with heroin use, while the lowest severity of aggression was detected when ADHD- status co-occurred with the use of marijuana. ADHD+ patients showed a marked increase in depression symptoms, suicidal ideation, suicidal attempts as well as self-injuries associated with suicidal attempts. Considering the substantial costs of aggression and suicide from a societal perspective and from the point of view of the individual sufferer, our results highlight the importance of the diagnostic investigation of ADHD in the treatment of drug dependent patients.