DSM-III-R ALCOHOL-ABUSE AND DEPENDENCE AND PSYCHIATRIC COMORBIDITY INONTARIO - RESULTS FROM THE MENTAL-HEALTH SUPPLEMENT TO THE ONTARIO HEALTH SURVEY

The lifetime prevalence of DSM-III-R alcohol abuse and alcohol depende nce and associated patterns of psychiatric comorbidity in the Ontario population aged 15-64 years are estimated from a survey of a represent ative household sample using the University of Michigan Composite Inte rnational Diagnostic Interview (UM-CIDI). More than half(55%) of all i ndividuals with an alcohol disorder have a lifetime comorbid disorder and comorbidity is more common in women than in men with an alcohol di sorder. The odds of having other drug disorders and antisocial persona lity disorder are very high in individuals with an alcohol disorder co mpared to those without. Alcohol dependents, but not alcohol abusers, have significantly increased odds of mood and anxiety disorders compar ed to individuals without an alcohol disorder. Sociodemographic risk p rofiles, alcohol use patterns and course differ for alcohol abusers/de pendents with and without a comorbid disorder. Primary anxiety and dru g disorders are risk factors for subsequent alcohol disorders.