Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-2020
Department
Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science
Keywords
alcohol, abuse, dependence, remission, comorbidity, prevalence
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.
Source Publication Title
Addictive Behaviors
Publisher
Elsevier
Volume
102
Issue
106128
DOI
10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106128
Recommended Citation
Glantz, M. D., Bharat, C., Degenhardt, L., Sampson, N. A., Scott, K. M., Lim, C. C., Al-Hamzawi, A., Alonso, J., Andrade, L. H., Cardoso, G., De Girolamo, G., Gureje, O., He, Y., Hinkov, H., Karam, E. G., Kovess-Masfety, V., Lasebikan, V., Lee, S., Levinson, D., McGrath, J., Medina-Mora, M., Mihaescu-Pintia, C., Mneimneh, Z., Moskalewicz, J., Navarro-Mateu, F., Posada-Villa, J., Rapsey, C., Stagnaro, J. C., Tachimori, H., Ten Have, M., Tintle, N. L., Torres, Y., Williams, D. R., Ziv, Y., & Kessler, R. C. (2020). The Epidemiology of Alcohol Use Disorders Cross-Nationally: Findings from the World Mental Health Surveys. Addictive Behaviors, 102 (106128) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106128