Title:Treatment of Adolescent Substance Use Disorders and Co-Occurring Internalizing Disorders: A Critical Review and Proposed Model
Volume: 8
Issue: 1
Author(s): Leslie A. Hulvershorn, Patrick D. Quinn and Eric L. Scott
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Adolescent, co-occurring psychiatric disorders, evidence-based treatments, substance use disorders.
Abstract: Background: The past several decades have seen dramatic growth in empirically supported
treatments for adolescent substance use disorders (SUDs), yet even the most well-established
approaches struggle to produce large or long-lasting improvements. These difficulties may stem, in
part, from the high rates of comorbidity between SUDs and other psychiatric disorders.
Method: We critically reviewed the treatment outcome literature for adolescents with co-occurring
SUDs and internalizing disorders.
Results: Our review identified components of existing treatments that might be included in an
integrated, evidence-based approach to the treatment of SUDs and internalizing disorders. An effective program may
involve careful assessment, inclusion of parents or guardians, and tailoring of interventions via a modular strategy.
Conclusions: The existing literature guides the development of a conceptual evidence-based, modular treatment model
targeting adolescents with co-occurring internalizing and SUDs. With empirical study, such a model may better address
treatment outcomes for both disorder types in adolescents.
