title: Alcohol and drug use, smoking, and gambling among psychiatric outpatients: a 1-year prevalence study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Studies of alcohol habits in general psychiatric populations are scarce. The objective was to investigate alcohol and drug use, smoking, and gambling in a clinical sample of psychiatric outpatients. A further aim was to study age and gender differences in the rates of these habits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected among psychiatric outpatients with mainly mood (47%) and anxiety (35%) disorders. A questionnaire package was distributed, including AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test), DUDIT (Drug Use Disorders Identification Test), tobacco items, and gambling items. Two major drinking categories were formed: "Nonhazardous alcohol use" (NH) and "Alcohol use above hazardous levels" (AH).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 2160 patients (65% females) responded to the questionnaire package. The AH rate was high among psychiatric outpatients (28.4%), particularly among young females (46.6%). Young female patients also reported a high prevalence of problematic drug use (13.8%). Problematic drug use, daily smoking, and problematic gambling were frequent. The unhealthy habits were linked to AH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alcohol and drug use, smoking, and gambling are all highly prevalent among psychiatric outpatients. Young females are in particular need of attention. Interventions should be tailored for co-occurring psychiatric disorders and applied within routine psychiatric care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry Unit, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. christina.nehlin.gordh@neuro.uu
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nehlin
authors.forename: Leif
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grönbladh
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fredriksson
authors.forename: Lennart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jansson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry) / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology