Clinical and Neurobiological Predictors of SUD in Youth with Disruptive Behavior Disorders-View Presentation

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The session examined the clinical and neurobiological predictors of substance use disorders in youth with disruptive behavior disorders, chaired by Jeffrey Newkorn, featured presentations by Ilyan Ivanov, Brooke Molina, and James Blair. Ivanov highlighted the potential influence of ADHD and conduct disorders on substance use risk, exploring the interaction between stimulant treatments and neurobiological predispositions in youth. His research suggested that while stimulants might optimize dopamine levels beneficially in some ADHD subgroups, they may exacerbate hyper-responsiveness in others with additional risk factors, such as conduct disorder.<br /><br />Molina addressed the broader psychosocial risk factors for substance use in youth with ADHD, emphasizing that stimulant treatment alone may not fully address the academic, social, and behavioral impairments contributing to substance use risk. Her research using the large-scale MTA study found no significant protective effect from stimulant treatment on adolescent substance use, noting that multiple factors need consideration to effectively reduce risk.<br /><br />Blair discussed the impact of high levels of alcohol and cannabis use on instrumental learning and corresponding brain connectivity issues. His findings suggested that while youth with high alcohol use disorders exhibit significant learning impairments and poor connectivity between brain regions responsible for reward and attention, those with high cannabis use may only show delayed improvements.<br /><br />The panel concluded with discussions on the importance of considering multiple risk factors in treatment, the necessity for personalized treatment approaches, and the potential implications for psychosocial interventions based on individual learning capabilities and brain responses.

Keywords

substance use disorders

youth

disruptive behavior disorders

ADHD

conduct disorders

stimulant treatments

neurobiological predispositions

psychosocial risk factors

MTA study

alcohol use disorders

cannabis use

instrumental learning

personalized treatment