title: Prevalence of comorbid alcohol disorder and consumption in medically ill and depressed patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the extent to which alcohol disorder co-occurs in patients with major medical and psychiatric conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Offices of general medical providers and mental health specialists in three US cities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult patients (N = 2296) with hypertension, diabetes, heart disease (congestive heart failure or myocardial infarction), and/or current depressive disorder or subthreshold depressive symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Current and lifetime alcohol disorder, alcohol consumption, current problem drinking, perceived need for help for alcohol or other drug problems, and unmet need.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparisons of the prevalence of alcohol comorbidity in medically ill nondepressed patients of general medical providers and in depressed patients of both provider types.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with chronic medical problems or depression had similar levels of lifetime alcohol disorder (14% to 19%) and current alcohol problems (18% to 29%), but depressed patients were more likely to report needing help for problems with alcohol or drugs. Current alcohol disorder was more prevalent among depressed patients in mental health specialty practices than in general medical practices. Many patients who perceived a need for care for alcohol and other drug problems reported that this need was unmet (37% to 84%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians who treat patients with major medical and psychiatric conditions need to be prepared to identify and treat comorbid alcohol disorder.
authors.affiliation: RAND, Santa Monica, Calif.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Sherbourne
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Hays
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Burnam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications*; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged