INTRODUCTION: Dual diagnosis is used in addiction medicine to refer to the co-occurrence of an addiction-related disorder and another psychiatric disorder in the same individual. Adolescence is a key period for the development of both mental disorders and addictions. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to describe the relationships between psychiatric and addiction-related disorders in patients of the Outpatient Addiction Treatment Clinic for Children and Adolescents at the 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague in 2015-2022. METHODS: Data were retrospectively analyzed from the hospital's medical system, which collects basic diagnostic data on patients. Descriptive statistics and cluster analysis were performed to identify relationships between psychiatric and addiction-related disorders. RESULTS: Of the 450 patients, 153 patients (34%) met the criteria for dual diagnosis. The most common addiction-related disorders were mental and behavioural disorders due to the use of cannabinoids (35%) and internet gaming disorder (35%). The most common psychiatric diagnoses were behavioural and emotional disorders with usual onset in childhood and adolescence (64%), with a lower prevalence in girls than in boys. CONCLUSIONS: These findings may be important for the diagnosis and treatment of risky behaviours and addictions in children and adolescents.

Department of Addictology 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University 128 00 Prague Czech Republic

Department of Addictology General University Hospital Prague 128 00 Prague Czech Republic

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