The Prevalence of DSM‐III‐R Alcohol Dependence in Two American Indian Populations

Abstract

The rates of DSM-III-R alcohol dependence found in AI-SUPERPFP were generally higher than US averages and justify continued attention and concern to alcohol problems in AI communities, but they are not nearly as high as those in other reports in the literature that rely on less stringent sampling methods. Furthermore, significant sociocultural influences on the correlates of alcohol dependence in AI communities are evident in these data, underscoring the need to appreciate the complex and varying influences on the patterning of alcohol problems in the diverse cultural contexts of the US.

Prevalence and Comorbidity of Mental Disorders among American Indian Children in the Northern Midwest

“…The UM-CIDI has been used extensively with trained interviewers who are not clinicians. The version used in this study included cultural modifications similar to those in the AI-SUPERPFP [3,4].…”

The relationship of cumulative and proximal adversity to onset of substance dependence symptoms in two American Indian communities

“…Epidemiological evidence suggests that substance dependence is significantly more common among American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs, the indigenous peoples of the continental United States) than among other ethnic populations within the United States (Beals et al, 2003b;Beauvais, 1996;King et al, 1992;Kunitz et al, 1999;Kunitz and Levy, 1994;May, 1995May, , 1996Robin et al, 1998;Spicer et al, 2003;Whitesell et al, 2006). Our own work in American Indian (AI) communities has demonstrated significant disparities in rates of dependence, not only between AIs and the United Statespopulation as a whole, but between AI tribal communities as well (Beals et al, 2005a;Beals et al, 2005b;Beals et al, 2003b;O'Connell et al, 2005;Spicer et al, 2003;Whitesell et al, 2006;Whitesell et al, in press).…”

“…Our own work in American Indian (AI) communities has demonstrated significant disparities in rates of dependence, not only between AIs and the United Statespopulation as a whole, but between AI tribal communities as well (Beals et al, 2005a;Beals et al, 2005b;Beals et al, 2003b;O'Connell et al, 2005;Spicer et al, 2003;Whitesell et al, 2006;Whitesell et al, in press). The reduction of such disparities is an important part of the United States public health agenda.…”

Predictors of Performance on the MMSE and the DRS-2 Among American Indian Elders

“…2 Although a few studies have examined the utility of standard neuropsychological testing in this population, 3–5 little is known about the performance on common neurocognitive screening measures among American Indian elders. This gap is especially noteworthy since American Indians have high rates of several conditions that increase risk for poor cognitive functioning, such as alcohol abuse and addiction, 6–8 diabetes, 9,10 traumatic brain injury, 11,12 and overweight/obesity and cardiovascular disease. 13,14 Further, American Indians are disproportionately poor (28.4% compared with 12.4% of the U.S. general population), 15 and low socioeconomic status has been linked to several factors that might affect cognitive ability.…”