Self-medication of anxiety disorders with alcohol and drugs: Results from a nationally representative sample.
Self-medication--the use of alcohol or drugs in an attempt to reduce anxiety--has often been invoked as an explanatory mechanism for the high co-occurrence of anxiety and substance use disorders (for reviews, see Allan, C. A. (1995). Alcohol problems and anxiety disorders-A critical review. Alcohol & Alcoholism, 30(2), 145-151; Kushner, M. G., Abrams, K., & Borchardt. (2000). The relationship between anxiety disorders and alcohol use disorders: A review of major perspectives and findings. Clinical Psychology Review, 20(2), 149-171). The current study expands upon previous self-medication research by: (1) examining prevalence and comorbidity of self-medication for anxiety disorders (panic disorder, social phobia, specific phobia, and generalized anxiety disorder); (2) using a nationally representative sample (National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions; N=43,093) to do so; and (3) by differentiating self-medication with alcohol from self-medication with drugs. Prevalence rates ranged from 18.3% (self-medication with alcohol for generalized anxiety disorder) to 3.3% (self-medication with both alcohol and drugs for specific phobia and panic disorder without agoraphobia). Multiple logistic regression analyses determined that self-medication with alcohol was associated with increased likelihood of any mood or personality disorder diagnosis, while self-medication with both alcohol and drugs further increased these associations over and above self-medication with alcohol alone. Findings remained significant after adjusting for sociodemographic and substance use disorder variables, which suggests that independently of substance use disorders, self-medication can be viewed as a marker of severity.
Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. jenrobinson1@gmail.ca
Jennifer
J
Robinson
Jitender
J
Sareen
Brian J
BJ
Cox
James
J
Bolton
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D003710:Demography; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D000431:Ethanol; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012651:Self Medication; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D000431:Ethanol