DSM-III-R DISORDERS IN NEW-ZEALAND 18-YEAR-OLDS

The one-year prevalence and correlates of selected DSM-III-R disorders were determined in a sample of 930 18-year-olds. Using both diagnosti c and impairment criteria 340 individuals (36.6%) were considered to h ave disorder. The most prevalent disorders were major depressive episo de (16.7%), alcohol dependence (10.4%) and social phobia (11.1%). Ther e was a high degree of co-morbidity among disorders; 46% of those with disorder had two or more. The prevalence of disorders was greater for females, with the exception of conduct disorder and alcohol or mariju ana dependence. A variety of characteristics were associated with diso rder, including poor social competence, disadvantage and self-rated he alth status. A third of those with disorder had their problems recogni sed by a ''significant-other''. The results are presented within the c ontext of a perceived need for research in the area of adolescent and early adult mental health in order to minimise the toll of mental diso rder in later life.