Alcohol-induced psychotic disorder and delirium in the general population.
BACKGROUND
Epidemiological data on alcohol-induced psychotic disorder and delirium (alcohol-induced psychotic syndrome, AIPS) are scarce.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the epidemiology of AIPS, the risk factors for developing AIPS among people with alcohol dependence, and mortality associated with alcohol dependence with or without AIPS, in a sample drawn from the general population of Finland.


METHODS
A general population sample of 8028 persons were interviewed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview and screened for psychotic disorders using multiple sources. Best-estimate diagnoses of psychotic disorders were made using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders and case notes. Data on hospital reatments and deaths were collected from national registers.


RESULTS
The lifetime prevalence was 0.5% for AIPS and was highest (1.8%) among men of working age. Younger age at onset of alcohol dependence, low socioeconomic status, father's mental health or alcohol problems and multiple hospital treatments were associated with increased risk of AIPS. Participants with a history of AIPS had considerable medical comorbidity, and 37% of them died during the 8-year follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Alcohol-induced psychotic disorder is a severe mental disorder with poor outcome.
Perälä
Jonna
J
National Institute for Health and Welfare, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Helsinki, Finland. jonna.perala@thl.fi
Kuoppasalmi
Kimmo
K
Pirkola
Sami
S
Härkänen
Tommi
T
Saarni
Samuli
S
Tuulio-Henriksson
Annamari
A
Viertiö
Satu
S
Latvala
Antti
A
Koskinen
Seppo
S
Lönnqvist
Jouko
J
Suvisaari
Jaana
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000430:Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005192:Family Health; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011604:Psychoses, Alcoholic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors