The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) series provides data on the prevalence of both treated and untreated psychiatric disorder in the English adult population (aged 16 and over. Last week the NHS Information Centre for health and social care published findings from the third survey in a series conducted by the National Centre for Social Research in collaboration with the University of Leicester.
Sally McManus, one of the editors of the report, has kindly submitted the summary below to Alcohol Policy UK.
One chapter in the APMS 2007 survey report presents prevalence estimates of hazardous and harmful drinking and of alcohol dependence in the adult general population, and compares these with rates from the APMS 2000 survey. A survey of the household population such as this is likely to under-sample dependent adults, who are more likely to be homeless. Moreover, dependent drinkers who do live in private households may be less available, able or willing to participate in surveys.
Hazardous and harmful drinking were measured using the AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test), administered by self-completion. An AUDIT score of eight or more indicated hazardous drinking, and 16 or more indicated harmful drinking. Alcohol dependence was assessed by the self-completed SADQ-C (Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire, community version). A SADQ-C score of four to 19 indicated mild dependence; a score of 20 to 34, moderate dependence; and a score of 35 or more, severe dependence.
- The prevalence of hazardous drinking identified by APMS 2007 was 24.2% (33.2% of men, 15.7% of women). This included 3.8% of adults (5.8% of men, 1.9% of women) whose drinking could be categorised as harmful. In men, the highest prevalence of both hazardous and harmful drinking was in 25 to 34 year olds, in women in 16 to 24 year olds.
- The prevalence of alcohol dependence was 5.9% (8.7% of men, 3.3% of women). For men, the highest levels of dependence were identified in those between the ages of 25 and 34 (16.8%), for women in those between the ages of 16 and 24 (9.8%). Most recorded dependence was categorised as mild (5.4%), with relatively few adults showing symptoms of moderate or severe dependence (0.4% and 0.1% respectively).
- The prevalence of alcohol dependence was lower for men in 2007 (9.3% of 16-74 year olds) than in 2000 (11.5% of 16-74 year olds). It remained at a similar level in women.
- Alcohol dependence was more common in white men and women than in those from minority ethnic groups. There were no significant variations in the prevalence of dependence by region or income. However, the likelihood of being a hazardous drinker did vary between regions.
- 14% of alcohol dependent adults were receiving treatment for a mental or emotional problem. Dependent women (26%) were much more likely than dependent men (9%) to be in receipt of such treatment.
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