The prevalence of comorbid alcohol, other drug, and mental disorders in the US total community and institutional population was determined from 20 291 persons interviewed in the National Institute of Mental Health Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program. Estimated US population lifetime prevalence rates were 22.5% for any non—substance abuse mental disorder, 13.5% for alcohol dependence-abuse, and 6.1% for other drug dependence-abuse. Among those with a mental disorder, the odds ratio of having some addictive disorder was 2.7, with a lifetime prevalence of about 29% (including an overlapping 22% with an alcohol and 15% with another drug disorder). For those with either an alcohol or other drug disorder, the odds of having the other addictive disorder were seven times greater than in the rest of the population. Among those with an alcohol disorder, 37% had a comorbid mental disorder. The highest mental-addictive disorder comorbidity rate was found for those with drug (other than alcohol) disorders, among whom more than half (53%) were found to have a mental disorder with an odds ratio of 4.5. Individuals treated in specialty mental health and addictive disorder clinical settings have significantly higher odds of having comorbid disorders. Among the institutional settings, comorbidity of addictive and severe mental disorders was highest in the prison population, most notably with antisocial personality, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorders. (JAMA. 1990;264:2511-2518)

https://jamanetwork.com/HttpHandlers/ArticlePdfHandler.ashx?journal=JAMA&articleId=383975&pdfFileName=jama_264_19_026.pdf

Comorbidity of Mental Disorders With Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse. Results From the Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) Study

Reliable quantitative ratings of chronic medical illness burden have proved to be difficult in geropsychiatric practice and research. Thus, the purpose of the study was to demonstrate the feasibility and reliability of a modified version of the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS; Linn et al., 1968) in providing quantitative ratings of chronic illness burden. The modified CIRS was operationalized with a manual of guidelines geared toward the geriatric patient and for clarity was designated the CIRS(G). A total of 141 elderly outpatient subjects (two medical clinic groups of 20 each, 45 recurrent depressed subjects, 21 spousally bereaved subjects, and 35 healthy controls) received comprehensive physical examinations, reviews of symptoms, and laboratory testing. These data were then used by nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, and geriatric psychiatrists to compute CIRS(G) ratings of chronic illness burden. As hypothesized, analysis of variance demonstrated significant differences among groups with respect to total medical illness burden, which was highest among medical clinic patients and lowest in control subjects. Good interrater reliability (i.e., intraclass correlations of 0.78 and 0.88 in a subsample of 10 outpatients and a separate group of 10 inpatients, respectively) was achieved for CIRS(G) total scores. Among medical clinic patients, a significant correlation was found, as expected, between CIRS(G) chronic illness burden and capability as quantified by the Older Americans Activities of Daily Living Scale; and between CIRS(G) scores and physicians' global estimates of medical burden. Finally, with repeated measures of illness burden approximately 1 year from symptom baseline, significant rises were detected, as expected. The current data suggest that the CIRS(G) can be successfully applied in medically and psychiatrically impaired elderly subjects, with good interrater reliability and face validity (credibility).

Rating chronic medical illness burden in geropsychiatric practice and research: Application of the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale

Rosen's Emergency Medicine - Concepts and Clinical Practice, 2-Volume Set, 8th Edition - Libros de Medicina - Medicina de urgencias y emergencias - 286,00

Rosen's Emergency Medicine - Concepts and Clinical Practice, 2-Volume Set, 8th Edition

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and mental health treatment services utilization of adolescents with bipolar disorders and manic symptoms. Method Structured diagnostic interviews were administered to a representative community sample of 1,709 older adolescents (aged 14 through 18 years). Results The lifetime prevalence of bipolar disorders (primarily bipolar II disorder and cyclothymia) was approximately 1%. An additional 5.7% of the sample reported having experienced a distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood even though they never met criteria for bipolar disorder ("core positive" subjects). The rate of manic symptoms in these subjects was similar to that reported in clinical samples, and the course of bipolar disorder was relatively chronic. Compared with adolescents with a history of major depression ( n = 316) and a "never mentally ill" group ( n = 845), the bipolar and core positive subjects both exhibited significant functional impairment and high rates of comorbidity (particularly with anxiety and disruptive behavior disorders), suicide attempts, and mental health services utilization. Conclusions These data highlight the clinical and public health significance of even the milder and subthreshold cases of bipolar disorder in adolescence.

Bipolar disorders in a community sample of older adolescents : prevalence, phenomenology, comorbidity, and course

BACKGROUND Recent research from North America has demonstrated higher than expected rates of drug and alcohol abuse among the seriously mentally ill. Schizophrenics appear to be particularly susceptible to the negative effects of substance abuse. These include psychiatric and social complications, with antisocial behaviour, particularly violence emerging as one of the most worrying features. This review examines the strength of the association and explores the possible explanations for the apparent link between schizophrenia, substance abuse and violence.

METHOD The literature was searched using Medline, supplemented with a manual literature search.

RESULTS Very few articles specifically approached the problem of violence among substance abusing schizophrenics, but over 80 papers were identified which were helpful in exploring the link between dangerous behaviour and substance abuse by schizophrenics.

CONCLUSIONS While there is circumstantial evidence to support the hypothesis that schizophrenics who abuse drugs or alcohol are at an increased risk of behaving violently, longitudinal studies are required to facilitate a better understanding of the mediating mechanisms.

Schizophrenia and substance abuse.

• One hundred patients of lower socioeconomic class were intensively evaluated medically on a research ward for the presence of unrecognized medical illnesses that might have affected their hospitalization. Forty-six percent were thought to have medical illnesses that directly caused or greatly exacerbated their symptoms and were consequently responsible for their admission, while an additional 34% of patients were found to be suffering from a medical illness requiring treatment. A diagnostic battery of physical, psychiatric, and neurologic examinations, coupled with a 34-panel automated blood analysis, complete blood cell count, urinanalysis, ECG, and sleepdeprived EEG established the presence and nature of more than 90% of the illnesses detected, and is therefore recommended as an initial evaluation battery, particularly for patients facing involuntary commitment to a mental hospital.

Physical Illness Manifesting as Psychiatric Disease: II. Analysis of a State Hospital Inpatient Population

One hundred ninety-five consecutive psychiatric outpatients were surveyed for covert drug abuse by a standardized technique for determining opiates, cocaine, barbiturates, and amphetamines in urine samples. On the basis of demographic variables, diagnostic information, and treatment course, patterns of abuse were defined for the 13.3 per cent with positive test results. Covert abusers demonstrated a higher incidence of adverse drug reactions and a less favorable therapy course than controls. Covert abuse was meaningfuly related to misdiagnosis, management problems, and therapist's response. Demographic variables and patient reports of previous abuse were not found to be reliable predicators of covert drug abuse. Urine screening for drug use is recommended as an aid to proper diagnosis of psychiatric outpatients that present diagnostic questions.

Earl R. Gardner

Papers

Physical Illness Manifesting as Psychiatric Disease: II. Analysis of a State Hospital Inpatient Population

Covert outpatient drug abuse. Incidence and therapist recognition.