Comorbidity of phobic disorders with alcoholism in a Canadian community sample.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relation between phobic disorders and alcoholism in a Canadian community sample.


METHODS
Data came from the Mental Health Supplement of the Ontario Health Survey. The University of Michigan revision of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (UM-CIDI) was used to diagnose DSM-III-R psychiatric disorders in 8116 Canadian respondents between ages 15 and 64 years. Since the cross-system agreement (ICD-10 and DSM-III-R or DSM-IV) on the diagnosis of alcohol abuse is much lower than that for alcohol dependence, we also examined a WHO category, "hazardous alcohol use." Logistic regression controlling for age and sex was used to determine odds ratios (ORs) for phobic disorders and alcohol-use diagnoses.


RESULTS
Individuals with lifetime alcohol abuse or dependence had two- to threefold increased odds of having a phobic disorder. Simple phobia and social phobia with multiple fears were significantly associated (ORs 1.5 to 2) with hazardous alcohol use (which had a prevalence of approximately 10%).


CONCLUSIONS
Given the early onset of most phobic disorders, the findings suggest that these are a risk factor for hazardous patterns of alcohol use.
Sareen
J
J
Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg,   M5024 409 Taché Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6. sareen@cc.umanitoba.ca
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012111:Residence Characteristics