Evaluation of adolescents with substance use disorder in terms of social cognitive functions

Background: Theory of mind and emotion recognition functions have been shown to be impaired in different types of addiction. Studies to evaluate social cognitive functions in substance use disorder (SUD) in children and adolescents are very rare. The aim of this study is that to compare adolescents with SUD with the control group in terms of social cognitive functions. Method: In this study, 47 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 who were diagnosed with SUD according to DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and 30 non-SUD were included. The group with SUD compare with the control group in terms of sociodemographic, familial, developmental and clinical features; psychiatric diagnoses determined by K-SADS; Hospital Anxiety Depression Inventory (HADS) scores, Strengths Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)- Parent Form, Faces test; Reading Mind In The Eyes Test (RMET) scores, Faux Pas test scores for evaluating social cognitive functions. Results: In adolescents with SUD, compared to the control group, the rate of living in a broken family and not attending school was high and that the level of father education was statistically significantly lower; The rate of detecting any psychiatric diagnosis with K-SADS and the current Depressive disorder and ADHD diagnosis rates were significantly higher; Emotional-behavioral symptom scores determined with SDQ-Parent form were found to be significantly higher; HADS-Anxiety and HADS-Depression subscale scores were significantly higher; The Faces test, RMET test and Faux Pas test scores for evaluating social cognitive functions were found to be significantly lower. Conclusion: In this study, social cognitive functions associated with SUD in adolescent age group, comorbid mental problems, family environment, parental education level and features related to educational problems can be a guide in terms of evaluation, protection and treatment practices in this field. Keywords: Child and Adolescent, Theory of Mind, Substance Use Disorder, Social Cognition.