Value of differential diagnostics of personality disorders in patients with ADHD in addiction treatment
Abstract
Personality disorders and ADHD represent one of the most common comor-bidities among substance users. At the same time, recent studies generally show relatively high prevalence of ADHD in addicted patients.
In combination with more "traditional" comorbidity as personality disorders, represents a high risk complicating factor for proper diagnosis, indications for treatment, procedures and overall treatment outcome. The incidence of symptoms or residues of ADHD in adulthood represents for the individual often significant difficulties in personal, social and working lives.
The patients may experience a higher level of frustration, aggression and interpersonal conflicts. All this makes them, inter alia, more vulnerable for substance abuse.
The diagnostic criteria for ADHD in adulthood in some areas overlap with diagnostic guides for personality disorders, and thus maybe difficult in clinical practice to reliably distinguish and determine what kind of comorbidity that is, or in what etiological relationship they are. The review focuses on the differential diagnosis of these three mental disorders.
The authors reflect the prevalence of comorbidities, describe the diagnostic aspects according to DSM-V and ICD-10 and present developmental aspects of ADHD. Based on the review of assessment methods for the Czech environment and experience from psychiatric and psychological practice are outlined recommendations for clinical work with this group of patients.