Depression, Conduct Problems and Substance Abuse Treatment Outcomes among Adolescents

The purpose of this dissertation study was to investigate the direct and interactive relationships between depression and conduct problems and substance abuse treatment outcomes in a national sample of adolescents participating in substance abuse treatment. This study involved a secondary analysis of data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse\u27s- Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Study for Adolescence (DATOS-A), a multi-site, longitudinal study of substance abusing adolescents seeking treatment. Participants completed a battery of self-report and interview measures at treatment intake including the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Revised (DISC-R), which assessed depression and conduct problems. Adolescents also completed structured interviews relating to substance use at intake and 12 months after treatment. Results from the multiple regression analyses supported hypotheses relating to greater conduct problems predicting greater post-treatment substance use. Results from the multiple regression analyses failed to support study hypotheses relating to depression and the interaction of conduct problems and depression predicting post-treatment substance use. Significant control variables included age, length of treatment, and intake level of substance use. Results are discussed within the context of the relevant literature