Addiction, Alcohol, Author Interviews, Cannabis, Mental Health Research / 03.03.2017
Intermittent Explosive Disorder Linked To Higher Risk of Substance Abuse
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Emil F. Coccaro, M.D.
Ellen C. Manning Professor
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience
The University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois 60637
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Aggressive behavior and drug use have been related for years but this study shows people with problematic aggression (Intermittent Explosive Disorder: IED) are in fact at risk for developing alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis use disorders and that the onset of problematic aggression (IED) begins before the onset of the drug use.
The increased risk for alcohol use disorder was nearly six-fold higher, the increased risk for cannabis use disorder was seven-fold higher, and the increased risk for tobacco use disorder was four-fold higher. In addition, the presence of IED increased the severity of the substance use disorder.
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