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Identifying a negative mood subtype in incarcerated adolescents: relationship to substance use.

Turner AP, Larimer ME, Sarason IG, Trupin EW

VA Puget Sound Health Care System, and Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98108, United States. Aaron.Turner@med.va.gov

OBJECTIVE: The following study tested the empirical validity and clinical meaningfulness of a negative mood subtype of incarcerated adolescent males (N=270). Differences in alcohol and marijuana use and consequences were examined. METHOD: Participants were subtyped according to reports of depressive and anxious symptoms using the Children's Depression Inventory and the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale. RESULTS: Cluster analysis confirmed the presence of negative mood (34%) and normal mood (66%) subtypes. Incarcerated adolescents in the negative mood subtype reported higher levels of alcohol use, higher levels of use-related consequences for both alcohol and marijuana, greater use of both substances to regulate mood states, and more use of avoidant coping. CONCLUSION: Results underscore the need for identification and treatment of mental health and substance use difficulties in the juvenile justice system.

Published 18 July 2005 in Addict Behav, 30(7): 1442-8.
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