Dataset Information

The epidemiology of alcohol use disorders cross-nationally: Findings from the World Mental Health Surveys.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Prevalences of Alcohol Use Disorders (AUDs) and Mental Health Disorders (MHDs) in many individual countries have been reported but there are few cross-national studies. The WHO World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Initiative standardizes methodological factors facilitating comparison of the prevalences and associated factors of AUDs in a large number of countries to identify differences and commonalities.

Methods

Lifetime and 12-month prevalence estimates of DSM-IV AUDs, MHDs, and associations were assessed in the 29 WMH surveys using the WHO CIDI 3.0.

Results

Prevalence estimates of alcohol use and AUD across countries and WHO regions varied widely. Mean lifetime prevalence of alcohol use in all countries combined was 80%, ranging from 3.8% to 97.1%. Combined average population lifetime and 12-month prevalence of AUDs were 8.6% and 2.2% respectively and 10.7% and 4.4% among non-abstainers. Of individuals with a lifetime AUD, 43.9% had at least one lifetime MHD and 17.9% of respondents with a lifetime MHD had a lifetime AUD. For most comorbidity combinations, the MHD preceded the onset of the AUD. AUD prevalence was much higher for men than women. 15% of all lifetime AUD cases developed before age 18. Higher household income and being older at time of interview, married, and more educated, were associated with a lower risk for lifetime AUD and AUD persistence.

Conclusions

Prevalence of alcohol use and AUD is high overall, with large variation worldwide. The WMH surveys corroborate the wide geographic consistency of a number of well-documented clinical and epidemiological findings and patterns.

SUBMITTER: Glantz MD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7416527 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

The epidemiology of alcohol use disorders cross-nationally: Findings from the World Mental Health Surveys.

Glantz Meyer D MD Bharat Chrianna C Degenhardt Louisa L Sampson Nancy A NA Scott Kate M KM Lim Carmen C W CCW Al-Hamzawi Ali A Alonso Jordi J Andrade Laura Helena LH Cardoso Graca G De Girolamo Giovanni G Gureje Oye O He Yanling Y Hinkov Hristo H Karam Elie G EG Karam Georges G Kovess-Masfety Viviane V Lasebikan Victor V Lee Sing S Levinson Daphna D McGrath John J Medina-Mora Maria-Elena ME Mihaescu-Pintia Constanta C Mneimneh Zeina Z Moskalewicz Jacek J Navarro-Mateu Fernando F Posada-Villa José J Rapsey Charlene C Stagnaro Juan Carlos JC Tachimori Hisateru H Ten Have Margreet M Tintle Nathan N Torres Yolanda Y Williams David R DR Ziv Yuval Y Kessler Ronald C RC

Addictive behaviors 20190916

<h4>Background</h4>Prevalences of Alcohol Use Disorders (AUDs) and Mental Health Disorders (MHDs) in many individual countries have been reported but there are few cross-national studies. The WHO World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Initiative standardizes methodological factors facilitating comparison of the prevalences and associated factors of AUDs in a large number of countries to identify differences and commonalities.<h4>Methods</h4>Lifetime and 12-month prevalence estimates of DSM-IV AUDs, MH ...[more]

PMID: 31865172

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Project description:BACKGROUND AND AIMS:Prior research has found bidirectional associations between psychotic experiences (PEs) and selected substance use disorders. We aimed to extend this research by examining the bidirectional association between PEs and various types of substance use (SU) and substance use disorders (SUDs), and the influence of antecedent mental disorders on these associations. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND MEASUREMENTS:We used data from the World Health Organization World Mental Health surveys. A total of 30?902 adult respondents across 18 countries were assessed for (a) six types of life-time PEs, (b) a range of types of SU and DSM-IV SUDs and (c) mental disorders using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Discrete-time survival analyses based on retrospective age-at-onset reports examined the bidirectional associations between PEs and SU/SUDs controlling for antecedent mental disorders. FINDINGS:After adjusting for demographics, comorbid SU/SUDs and antecedent mental disorders, those with prior alcohol use disorders [odds ratio (OR) = 1.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.2-2.0], extra-medical prescription drug use (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.1-1.9), alcohol use (OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1-1.7) and tobacco use (OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.0-1.8) had increased odds of subsequent first onset of PEs. In contrast, those with temporally prior PEs had increased odds of subsequent onset of tobacco use (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.2-1.9), alcohol use (OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.1-1.6) or cannabis use (OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.0-1.5) as well as of all substance use disorders (ORs ranged between 1.4 and 1.5). There was a dose response relationship between both count and frequency of PEs and increased subsequent odds of selected SU/SUDs. CONCLUSIONS:Associations between psychotic experiences (PEs) and substance use/substance use disorders (SU/SUDs) are often bidirectional, but not all types of SU/SUDs are associated with PEs. These findings suggest that it is important to be aware of the presence of PEs within those with SUDs or at risk of SUDs, given the plausibility that they may each impact upon the other.

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Dataset Information

The epidemiology of alcohol use disorders cross-nationally: Findings from the World Mental Health Surveys.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

The epidemiology of alcohol use disorders cross-nationally: Findings from the World Mental Health Surveys.

Similar Datasets

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