Factors associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms among patients with substance use in Malaysia.

BACKGROUND

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often coexists with substance use disorders (SUDs). This study aimed to determine factors associated with ADHD symptoms among adults with SUDs in Malaysia.

METHODS

Patients aged ≥18 years with a ≥1-year history of substance use who were admitted to any of the three drug rehabilitation centres in urban Malaysia for >1 month were invited to participate. Participants were interviewed using the Malay version of the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test to assess substance use and the Malay version of the Adult ADHD Self-Reporting Scale to assess ADHD symptoms.

RESULTS

The prevalence of adult ADHD symptoms among participants with SUDs was 47.2%. Compared with participants without ADHD, a lower proportion of participants with ADHD had medical comorbidities (84.9% vs 93.3%, p = 0.018), whereas a higher proportion of participants with ADHD symptoms had a history of imprisonment (80.8% vs 65.6%, adjusted p = 0.018) and first imprisonment before the age of 18 years (24.6% vs 16.8%, adjusted p = 0.048).

CONCLUSION

A high proportion of adults undergoing rehabilitation for SUDs have ADHD symptoms. Screening and interventions for ADHD should be integrated into SUD rehabilitation programmes.