Comorbidity of Alcohol and Psychiatric Problems.ppt

Comorbidity of Alcohol and Psychiatric Problems NIAAA Social Work Education Module 10E Outline Background Epidemiology of Comorbidity Social Work Implications of Comorbidity Intervention Strategies Background DSM-IV: Provides U.S. definitions of the main mental and psychiatric disorders Provides professionals with a common language and promotes clear communications Is widely available (http://www. /dsm.html) Background (continued) Comorbidity is the co-occurrence of two diseases, disorders, or health problems Comorbidity is discerned through DSM-IV diagnoses Alcohol disorders: dependence, abuse Comorbid disorders: symptoms must not be those of intoxication or withdrawal Epidemiology of Comorbidity Alcohol use disorders are common Psychiatric disorders are common Co-occurrence of alcohol and psychiatric disorders is common Epidemiology (continued) Epidemiology (continued) 50% of persons with alcohol, drug or mental health disorders have two or more disorders over their lifetimes ~1/6 of the population has three or more comorbid lifetime disorders Epidemiology (continued) Odds ratio of alcohol/ drug disorders is 2.7 times more if any mental disorder exists This is 10-20 times greater than expected for schizophrenia, mania, antisocial personality disorder Epidemiology (cont’d): Adolescents 76% of 14-17 year olds with substance use disorders (SUD) also had anxiety, mood or disruptive behavior In 16 of 25 youths with substance use disorders the problem was with alcohol Epidemiology (continued) Other disorders with high rates of alcohol abuse/dependence co-occurrence : ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) Major depressive disorders Drug use disorders (poly substance abuse) Social Work Implications Comorbidity is frequently encountered Comorbidity is associated with significant functional impairment Comorbid disorders may have causal relationships with one another Comorbid disorders may alter “diseas