title: The prevalence and correlates of alcohol use and alcohol use disorders: a population based study in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alcohol use is increasing in non-Western countries. However, the effects of this increase on the prevalence of alcohol use disorders (AUD) remains unknown, particularly in South Asia. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of alcohol use and AUD in the Colombo District, Sri Lanka. Environmental risk factors and psychiatric correlates were also examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used to assess alcohol use and psychiatric disorders in a population based sample of 6014 twins and singletons in the Colombo region of Sri Lanka.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lifetime alcohol use on 12 or more occasions was estimated at 63.1 % (95 % CI: 61.3-64.9) in men and 3.7 % (95 % CI: 3.0-4.3) in women. Prevalence of lifetime alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence in men was 6.2 % (95 % CI: 5.3-7.1) and 4.0 % (95 % CI: 3.3-4.7) respectively. Lower standard of living was independently associated with alcohol use and dependence but not abuse. Significant associations between lifetime AUD and other psychiatric disorders were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower prevalence of alcohol use and AUD was observed compared to Western countries. Prevalence of alcohol use and AUD were higher than previous reports. Socio-demographic and environmental risk factors appear to be similar across cultures as were associations between AUD and other psychiatric disorders.
authors.affiliation: Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Kings College, DeCrespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, UK. helena.zavos@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Helena M S
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Zavos
authors.affiliation: Sri Lanka Twin Registry, Institute of Research and Development, Battaramulla, 10120, Sri Lanka. sisira.siribaddana@gmail.com.|Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka Anuradhapura, Mihintale, Sri Lanka. sisira.siribaddana@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sisira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siribaddana
authors.affiliation: Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Kings College, DeCrespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, UK. harriet.ball@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Harriet A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.affiliation: Addictions Department, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, SE5 8BB, UK. michael.lynskey@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Lynskey
authors.affiliation: Sri Lanka Twin Registry, Institute of Research and Development, Battaramulla, 10120, Sri Lanka. athula.sumathipala@kcl.ac.uk.|Health Services and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College, University of London, London, SE5 8AF, UK. athula.sumathipala@kcl.ac.uk.|Research Institute for Primary Care & Health Sciences, Keele University, Keele, UK. athula.sumathipala@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Athula
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sumathipala
authors.affiliation: Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Kings College, DeCrespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, UK. fruhling.rijsdijk@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Frühling V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Rijsdijk
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College, London, SE5 9RJ, UK. matthew.hotopf@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hotopf
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D014427:Twins / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult