Psychiatric disorders of convicted DWI offenders: a comparison among Hispanics, American Indians and non-Hispanic whites.
OBJECTIVE
Alcohol-impaired offenders have high prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders; however, differences in prevalence rates among ethnic minorities have not been investigated. This study compares lifetime prevalence estimates of DSM-III-R psychiatric disorders (alcohol and drug abuse and dependence, nicotine dependence, major depressive disorder [MDD], dysthymia, generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and antisocial personality disorder [ASPD]) among Hispanics, American Indians and non-Hispanic whites convicted of driving while alcohol-impaired.


METHODS
Offenders (758 women, 631 men) previously referred to a screening program in Bernalillo County, NM, were interviewed for this study using a structured diagnostic interview.


RESULTS
Adjusting for age, education, income and marital status, Hispanic women had significantly higher rates of alcohol abuse (odds ratio [OR] = 2.2) and lower rates of alcohol dependence (OR = 0.3), drug abuse (OR = 0.4) and nicotine dependence (OR = 0.3) than non-Hispanic white women. American-Indian women showed significantly lower rates of alcohol dependence (OR = 0.5), nicotine dependence (OR = 0.2) and MDD (OR = 0.3) than non-Hispanic white women. Hispanic men had significantly lower rates of alcohol dependence (OR = 0.6), drug dependence (OR = 0.5), nicotine dependence (OR = 0.2), MDD (OR = 0.5) and ASPD (OR = 0.4) than non-Hispanic white men. American-Indian men also reported significantly lower rates of drug dependence (OR = 0.5), nicotine dependence (OR = 0.2) and ASPD (OR = 0.3) than non-Hispanic white men.


CONCLUSIONS
After statistically adjusting for demographic differences, minority groups were in general less affected by substance abuse problems and had similar or lower rates of other psychiatric disorders when compared with non-Hispanic whites.
C'de Baca
Janet
J
Behavioral Health Research Center of the Southwest, 612 Encino Place NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102, USA. jcdebaca@bhrcs.org
Lapham
Sandra C
SC
Skipper
Betty J
BJ
Hunt
William C
WC
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D044465:White People / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data