ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Severe behavioural problems (SBPs1) in childhood are highly prevalent, impair functioning, and predict negative outcomes later in life. Over the last decade, clinical practice guidelines for SBPs have been developed across Europe to facilitate the translation of scientific evidence into clinical practice. This study outlines the results of an investigation into academic experts' perspectives on the current prevalence, implementation, and utility of clinical guidelines for SBPs in children aged 6-12 across Europe. METHODS: An online semi-structured questionnaire was completed by 28 psychiatry and psychology experts from 23 countries. RESULTS: Experts indicated that approximately two thirds of the included European countries use at least an unofficial clinical document such as textbooks, while nearly half possess official guidelines for SBPs. Experts believed that, although useful for practice, guidelines' benefits would be maximised if they included more specific recommendations and were implemented more conscientiously. Similarly, experts suggested that unofficial clinical documents offer a wide range of treatment options to individualise treatment from. However, they stressed the need for more consistent, evidence-based clinical practices, by means of developing national and European clinical guidelines for SBPs. CONCLUSIONS: This study offers a preliminary insight into the current successes and challenges perceived by experts around Europe associated with guidelines and documents for SBPs, acting as a stepping stone for future systematic, in-depth investigations of guidelines. Additionally, it establishes experts' consensus for the need to develop official guidelines better tailored to clinical practice, creating a momentum for a transition towards European clinical guidelines for this population.
Subject(s)
Child Behavior Disorders/diagnosis , Child Behavior Disorders/therapy , Child Psychiatry/organization & administration , Pediatrics/organization & administration , Problem Behavior , Awareness , Child , Child Behavior/physiology , Europe , Humans , Practice Guidelines as Topic , PrevalenceABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Recent theories suggest that behavioural addictions and substance use disorders may be the result of the same underlying vulnerability. The present study investigates profiles of family background, personality and mental health factors and their associations with seven behavioural addictions (to the internet, gaming, smartphones, internet sex, gambling, exercise and work) and three substance use disorder scales (for alcohol, cannabis and tobacco). METHODS: The sample consisted of 5287 young Swiss men (mean ageâ¯=â¯25.42) from the Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors (C-SURF). A latent profile analysis was performed on family background, personality and mental health factors. The derived profiles were compared with regards to means and prevalence rates of the behavioural addiction and substance use disorder scales. RESULTS: Seven latent profiles were identified, ranging from profiles with a positive family background, favourable personality patterns and low values on mental health scales to profiles with a negative family background, unfavourable personality pattern and high values on mental health scales. Addiction scale means, corresponding prevalence rates and the number of concurrent addictions were highest in profiles with high values on mental health scales and a personality pattern dominated by neuroticism. Overall, behavioural addictions and substance use disorders showed similar patterns across latent profiles. CONCLUSION: Patterns of family background, personality and mental health factors were associated with different levels of vulnerability to addictions. Behavioural addictions and substance use disorders may thus be the result of the same underlying vulnerabilities.
Subject(s)
Behavior, Addictive/epidemiology , Character , Family Characteristics , Mental Disorders/epidemiology , Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology , Adult , Comorbidity , Humans , Male , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Switzerland , Young AdultABSTRACT
RESUMEN El trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad (TDAH) es la alteración neuroconductual más frecuente en la consulta pediátrica y su tratamiento comprende la terapia comportamental y el empleo de fármacos. Existe una preocupación latente por el eventual desarrollo del trastorno por el uso de sustancias (TUS) en los pacientes con TDAH tratados con estimulantes. La evidencia médica sugiere un efecto protector con respecto al consumo de sustancias psicoactivas, pero también alerta sobre el potencial abuso por parte de los pacientes y las personas alrededor. En este artículo se revisan sistemáticamente las virtudes y los riesgos de desarrollar TUS en los pacientes con TDAH en tratamiento con estimulantes.
SUMMARY The attention deficit with hyperactivity disorder is the most frequent disorder in pediatric outpatient services and its treatment involves behavioral therapy and drugs. However, there is concerning about develop substances use disorder once upon treatment with stimulants. Medicine based evidence suggests a preventive effect about psychoactive substance consumption but also warns potential abuse by patients and people around. In this paper, we systematically review worths and risks of SUD in stimulant - treated ADHD patients.
