Morbidade psiquiátrica entre adolescentes em conflito com a lei

objective: to describe the psychiatric profile, with emphasis on psychiatric comorbidities, of adolescents in conflict with the law interned on casa de acolhimento ao menor (cam), salvador, bahia, 2003. methods: this is a cross-sectional census study that enrolled a population of 290 adolescents kept on a deprivation of liberty regimen. aquestionnaire was used to collect demographic and psychosocial data as well as psychopathologic signs and symptoms, and a semi-structured interview was carried out on the examination of the enrolled adolescents. results: social-demographic profile: male (89.3%); between 15 and 18 years (63.9%), analphabets or had not completed the basic school years (95.1%); monthly family income below one minimum salary (67.6%). among the 290 enrolled adolescents, 24.8% had no mental disturbance, while 75.2% fulfilled criteria to one or more psychiatric disorders according to icd-10. out of 218 adolescents who had at least one diagnosis, 47.7% had comorbidity disorders. the commonest association of conditions was between behavioral disorders and the noxious use of psychoactive drugs (13.4%). hyperkinetic disorders are only frequent when associated with other conditions (10.7%). the noxious use of psychoactive drugs was also shown to be present, being noted in association with diverse psychiatric conditions. conclusion: ahigh rate of psychiatric comorbidity was found, suggesting the need for specific therapeutic approaches to aid adolescents with psychiatric conditions and in conflict with the law.