| Title |
Who seeks treatment for alcohol dependence?
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, February 2014
|
| DOI | 10.1007/s00127-002-0576-1 |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
Heather Proudfoot, Maree Teesson |
| Abstract |
This paper presents findings from the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing (NSMHWB) regarding prevalence and treatment seeking for Australians with DSM-IV alcohol dependence and examines the influence of alcohol use variables on treatment seeking. A standardised interview (including CIDI 2.1) was administered to a stratified random sample of 10,641 Australians aged 18 years and over. Demographic variables, common DSM-IV mental disorders, physical health status, perceived disability and treatment-seeking behaviour were assessed. Multiple logistic regression was used to ascertain the independent effects of all variables considered. The prevalence of DSM-IV alcohol dependence was 4.1 % in this population, with 75 % being male and nearly 60 % in the 18-34 year age group. Variables that correlated independently with alcohol dependence were sex (male), age (young), not being in a married or de facto relationship and having any affective, anxiety or other substance use disorder. Functional disability did not correlate with a dependence diagnosis. Correlates of treatment seeking for those with dependence were sex (female) and having a comorbid affective disorder. Having a diagnosis of dependence and/or abuse and having more dependence symptoms did not predict treatment seeking. However, meeting either of two criteria assessing psychological, physical or social problems due to alcohol use tended to increase service use. People with alcohol dependence do not perceive themselves as disabled and do not seek treatment. However, having a comorbid affective disorder or other problems directly attributable to alcohol use increases the likelihood that such individuals will seek treatment. Efforts should be made at the primary care level to encourage those engaged in harmful drinking practices to recognise the risks of such drinking and reduce it or seek treatment. Similarly, it is recommended that integrated services are enhanced at both primary and specialist levels in order that those with multiple problems are appropriately treated. Further research is required to refine measurement of disability and diagnoses of alcohol use disorders and to examine the relationship between disability and alcohol use. |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 44 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 44 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Researcher | 6 | 14% |
| Student > Doctoral Student | 6 | 14% |
| Student > Master | 5 | 11% |
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 4 | 9% |
| Student > Bachelor | 3 | 7% |
| Other | 10 | 23% |
| Unknown | 10 | 23% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 13 | 30% |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 10 | 23% |
| Social Sciences | 3 | 7% |
| Philosophy | 2 | 5% |
| Immunology and Microbiology | 1 | 2% |
| Other | 3 | 7% |
| Unknown | 12 | 27% |
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 6. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 17 December 2020.
All research outputs
#4,965,094
of 23,794,258 outputs
Outputs from Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
#926
of 2,534 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#59,228
of 311,499 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
#29
of 61 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 23,794,258 research outputs across all sources so far. Compared to these this one has done well and is in the 76th percentile: it's in the top 25% of all research outputs ever tracked by Altmetric.
So far Altmetric has tracked 2,534 research outputs from this source. They typically receive a lot more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 13.9. This one has gotten more attention than average, scoring higher than 60% of its peers.
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We're also able to compare this research output to 61 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one is in the 42nd percentile – i.e., 42% of its contemporaries scored the same or lower than it.