MENTAL-ILLNESS IN ADULTS WITH FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME OR FETAL ALCOHOLEFFECTS

Objectives: The authors' goal was to use structured clinical interview s to characterize the type and frequency of mental illness in adults w ith fetal alcohol syndrome or fetal alcohol effects. Methods: Twenty-f ive subjects who met criteria for fetal alcohol syndrome or fetal alco hol effects, who were older than 18 years old, and who had an IQ of gr eater than 70 were interviewed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders and Structured Clinical Interview of DSM-I II-R Personality Disorders. Results: Eighteen of the 25 subjects had r eceived psychiatric treatments. The most common axis I disorders were alcohol or drug dependence (15 subjects), depression (11 subjects), an d psychotic disorders (10 subjects). The most common axis II disorders were avoidant (six subjects), antisocial (four subjects), and depende nt (three subjects) personality disorders. Conclusions: This study sug gests that adults with fetal alcohol syndrome or fetal alcohol effects suffer from substantial mental illness.