Influence of comorbid alcohol and psychiatric disorders on utilization of mental health services in the National Comorbidity Survey.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study sought to determine how comorbidity of psychiatric and substance
abuse disorders affects the likelihood of using mental health services. METHOD: The
analysis was based on data on adults aged 18-54 years in the National Comorbidity
Survey (N = 5,393). Users and nonusers of mental health and substance abuse services
were compared in terms of their demographic characteristics, recent stressful life
events, social support, parental history of psychopathology, self-medication, and
symptoms of alcohol abuse/dependence. RESULTS: The prevalence of service utilization
varied by diagnostic configurations. Comorbid psychiatric or alcohol disorders were
stronger predictors of service utilization than a pure psychiatric or alcohol disorder.
Factors predicting utilization of services differed for each disorder. CONCLUSIONS:
Since comorbidity increases the use of mental health and substance abuse services,
research on the relationship of psychiatric and alcohol-related disorders to service
utilization needs to consider the coexistence of mental disorders. Attempts to reduce
barriers to help seeking for those in need of treatment should be increased.
Type
Journal articleSubject
HumansAlcoholism
Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry)
Factor Analysis, Statistical
Probability
Odds Ratio
Marital Status
Mental Disorders
Mental Health Services
Age Factors
Comorbidity
Sex Factors
Adolescent
Adult
Middle Aged
Continental Population Groups
Substance Abuse Treatment Centers
United States
Female
Male
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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/20023Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1176/ajp.156.8.1230Publication Info
Wu, LT; Kouzis, AC; & Leaf, PJ (1999). Influence of comorbid alcohol and psychiatric disorders on utilization of mental health
services in the National Comorbidity Survey. The American journal of psychiatry, 156(8). pp. 1230-1236. 10.1176/ajp.156.8.1230. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/20023.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
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Show full item recordScholars@Duke
Li-Tzy Wu
Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Education/Training: Pre- and post-doctoral training in mental health service research,
psychiatric epidemiology (NIMH T32), and addiction epidemiology (NIDA T32) from Johns
Hopkins University School of Public Health (Maryland); Fellow of the NIH Summer Institute
on the Design and Conduct of Randomized Clinical Trials.Director: Duke Community Based
Substance Use Disorder Research Program.Research interests: COVID-19, Opioid misuse,
Opioid overdose, Opioid use disorder

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