[Prevalence of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence according to DSM-IV criteria in first year university students].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of alcohol problems in first-year college students.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
Data on the prevalence of alcohol abuse or dependence according to DSM-IV criteria were collected in the period November 1995-April 1996 among college freshmen at the Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium). 3564 consecutive students completed a questionnaire which assessed drinking behaviour (Composite International Diagnostic Interview CIDI, Section J) and identified students at risk as defined by DSM-IV criteria. Our study included a large number of college freshmen, so we were able to perform our analyses with a large statistical power. All students had the opportunity to refuse their co-operation, but there were no non-responders, so selection bias was absent. The medical ethical committee of the KU Leuven approved this study.


RESULTS
Of all 3564 consecutive students 501 (14.1%; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 12.9-15.3) met DSM-IV criteria of alcohol abuse (n = 373; 10.5%; 9.5-11.5) or of alcohol dependence (n = 128; 3.6%; 3.0-4.2). Of the male students 301 (18.5%; 16.7-20.5) met the criteria of alcohol abuse and 96 (5.9%; 4.8-7.1) of alcohol dependence, of the female students 72 (3.7%; 2.9-4.6) and 32 (1.6%; 1.2-2.3) respectively. More than 10% (12.2%; 11.1-13.3) of these freshmen operated a vehicle under influence. This contributed in a major way to the DSM-IV conclusion.


CONCLUSIONS
In this, one of the first studies among college freshmen using DSM-IV criteria the prevalence of alcohol abuse was in excess of 10%. In addition a substantial proportion of college freshman appeared to be alcohol dependent according to DSM-IV criteria.
Aertgeerts
B
B
Afd. Huisartsgeneeskunde, Katholieke Universiteit, Kapucijnenvoer 33, Leuven. bert.aertgeerts@med.kuleuven.ac.be
Buntinx
F
F
Vandermeulen
C
C
Roelants
M
M
Fevery
J
J
Ansoms
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data