title: Use of alcohol and drugs to self-medicate anxiety disorders in a nationally representative sample.
abstract: This study examined the prevalence and correlates of self-medication of anxiety disorders with alcohol and drugs in a nationally representative sample (N = 5877). A modified version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used to make DSM-III-R mental disorder diagnoses. Frequencies of self-medication ranged from 7.9% (social phobia, speaking subtype) to 35.6% (generalized anxiety disorder). Among respondents with an anxiety disorder, self-medication was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of comorbid mood disorders, substance use disorders, distress, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. Self-medication behavior remained significantly associated with an increased likelihood of suicidal ideation (adjusted odds ratio = 1.66; 1.17-2.36) as well as suicide attempts (adjusted odds ratio = 2.23; 1.50-3.31), even after adjusting for a number of sociodemographic and psychiatric variables. These results suggest that individuals with anxiety disorders who self-medicate their symptoms with alcohol or drugs may be at increased risk for mood and substance use disorders and suicidal behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bolton
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Clara
authors.forename: Jitender
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sareen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003625:Data Collection; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012651:Self Medication / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology