Not all findings differed between adolescents and adults, however. Depression in adolescent girls with alcohol use disorders was nearly twice as prevalent. According to their studies, many teens with significant alcohol problems currently fall between abuse and dependence categories already defined for adults. Another study planned for the next five years will examine the brain chemistry of teens to determine if those who abuse alcohol have low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin, similar to those of adolescents who engage in impulsive behavior. Researchers have shown that deficiencies of this brain chemical may be a biological factor that contributes to this type of behavior.
Little research is available on adolescent alcohol use disorders.
For more information about psychiatry or to learn about current research studies, please visit the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic's Web site.