Psychiatric disorders in adult children of problem drinkers: prevalence, first onset and comparison with other risk factors

Aims. (1) To confirm the increased risk of psychiatric disorders in Adult C hildren of Alcoholics (ACOAs); (2) to rest if the age of onset of the disor ders differs for ACOAs versus non-ACOAs; (3) to estimate the weight of bein g an ACOA compared to other risk factors including childhood traumas, other parental problem behaviours and current risk factors. Design, setting, and participants. A random sample of the Dutch population (N = 7147) was inter viewed (response rate: 69.7%). Measurements. Psychiatric disorders were ass essed using the CIDI. Parental problem drinking, other parental problem beh aviours and childhood traumas were assessed using self-report measures. Fin dings. (1) ACOAs had a significantly higher life-time, 12-month and 1-month prevalence of mood, anxiety and abuse/dependence disorders. Sons of proble m drinkers also had a higher prevalence of eating disorders and schizophren ia. The prevalence rates were particularly high for the children of fathers with drinking problems. (2) The first onset of the mood and anxiety disord ers took place at a younger age in ACOAs than in non-ACOAs. (3) Relative to other parental problem behaviours and childhood traumas, parental problem drinking is a strong predictor of psychiatric disorders, in particular abus e/dependence disorders. Conclusions. Children of fathers with a drinking pr oblem are a high-risk group for psychiatric disorder From a public health p erspective it is an important target to break through this continuing circl e. The further development of prevention and early treatment interventions at schools, youth care and addiction treatment centres is an important issu e.