Mental Health and Well-being (prevalence of mental disorders)

Author(s): Fizza Batool*

The aim of this paper is to report the prevalence of 12-month comorbidity between DSM-IV alcohol use disorders (abuse or dependence) and anxiety, affective and drug use disorders in the adult Australian general population and to examine the disability and health service utilisation associated with this comorbidity. Respondents with an alcohol use disorder and a comorbid mental disorder were significantly more disabled and higher users of health services than respondents with an alcohol disorder and no comorbid mental disorders. The aim of the present study was to examine the association between trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders and to examine the correlates of substance use disorder plus PTSD comorbidity in the Australian general population. Method: Data were collected from a stratified sample of 10,641 participants as part of the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being. A modified version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used to determine the presence of DSM-IV anxiety, affective, and substance use disorders and ICD-10 personality disorders. Results: Substance use disorder plus PTSD was experienced by a significant minority of the Australian general population (0.5%). Among those with PTSD, the most common substance use disorder was an alcohol use disorder (24.1%). Large-scale community studies of the prevalence of mental disorders using standardized assessment tools are rare in sub-Saharan Africa. Conclusions: The observed low rates seem to reflect demographic and ascertainment factors. There was a large burden of unmet need for care among people with serious disorders

PDF