title: A co-morbidity of alcohol dependence with other psychiatric disorders in young adult Mexican Americans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mexican Americans comprise one of the most rapidly growing populations in the U.S. However, information on the co-morbidity of alcohol dependence with other psychiatric disorders in Mexican Americans is sparse.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic information, DSM-III-R diagnoses, and information differentiating independent from substance-induced anxiety and affective disorders were obtained from 240 Mexican American young adults residing in select areas of San Diego.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A high prevalence of alcohol dependence was found in this population. There was significant co-morbidity between alcohol dependence and anxiety, affective, conduct/antisocial, and other substance dependence disorders. Eight percent of the anxiety disorders and 26% of the affective disorders were found to be substance-induced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High rates and substantial co-morbidity of alcohol dependence with psychiatric and other substance use disorders were found in this population. These data may be helpful in designing prevention and intervention programs for this high-risk population.
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences Department, The Scripps Research Institute, LaJolla, CA 92037, USA.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Gilder
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: Cindy L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Ehlers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*