The burden of alcohol use disorders in U.S. Military veterans: results from the national health and resilience in veterans study.
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The burden of alcohol use disorders in U.S. Military veterans: results from the national health and resilience in veterans study.
Addiction. 2016 Apr 9;
Authors: Fuehrlein BS, Mota N, Arias AJ, Trevisan LA, Kachadourian LK, Krystal JH, Southwick SM, Pietrzak RH
Abstract
AIMS: To analyze data from a large, contemporary, nationally representative sample of U.S. veterans to evaluate: (1) the prevalence of lifetime alcohol use disorder (AUD), and past-year AUD; (2) common psychiatric comorbidities associated with lifetime AUD; and (3) correlates of lifetime and past-year probable AUD.
DESIGN: Data were analyzed from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (NHRVS), a web-based survey of a random probability sample of a contemporary, nationally representative sample of U.S. military veterans.
SETTING: USA.
PARTICIPANTS: Nationally representative sample of 3,157 U.S. veterans aged 21 years and older.
MEASUREMENTS: Lifetime alcohol abuse and dependence were assessed according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, and combined into a single variable: AUD. Past-year probable AUD was assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C). Correlates of AUD, including psychiatric comorbidities, suicidality, and demographic characteristics, were also assessed.
FINDINGS: The prevalence of lifetime AUD and past-year probable AUD was 42.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 40.5%-43.9%), and 14.8% (95%CI = 13.6%-16.0%), respectively. Compared with veterans without AUD, those with lifetime AUD had substantially elevated rates of lifetime and current mood and anxiety disorders (odds ratios [ORs] = 2.6-4.1), drug use disorder (OR = 10.7), lifetime suicide attempt (OR = 4.1) and current suicidal ideation (OR = 2.1). Younger age, male sex, lower education, lower annual household income, and greater number of lifetime traumatic events were independently associated with lifetime AUD. Younger age, male sex, unpartnered marital status, and a lifetime diagnosis of major depressive disorder were independently associated with past-year probable AUD.
CONCLUSIONS: More than 40% of U.S. military veterans have a lifetime history of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Veterans with a lifetime history of AUD have substantial comorbid psychiatric burden, including elevated rates of suicidal ideation and attempts. Certain sociodemographic (e.g., younger age, male sex, lower education) and clinical (e.g., trauma burden, history of depression) characteristics are associated with increased risk of AUD.
PMID: 27061707 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]