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Abstract: Background: Evidence in support of a suspected causal association linking childhood physical punishment (CPP) and later alcoholic beverage-related disturbances has been found in metropolitan China. Here, the focus shifts to the CPP association with the estimated risk of starting to drink, having the first drinking problem, and transitioning from first drink to the first drinking problem. Methods: Data are from the World Mental Health Surveys-metropolitan China study, with representative samples of adult household residents living in two metropolitan cities, Beijing and Shanghai. Recalled information was available for early life experiences (including CPP, other childhood adversities, and parental alcohol and drug problems), as well as the onset age of drinking and drinking problems. Survival analyses were used to estimate the Hazard Ratio. A structural equation modeling approach was used to control for other inter-correlated childhood adversities. Results: Cox proportional hazards modeling discloses statistically robust associations linking CPP with drinking and drinking problems, as well as more rapid transitions from first drink to first drinking problem, even after accounting for other childhood adversities and parental drinking problems. These associations cannot be attributed to a more general noxious family environment. Conclusions: These results lay a foundation for future experimental studies on the possible causal relationship linking CPP with the onset of drinking problems and the transition from drinking to drinking problems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of the current study is to estimate the association between childhood physical punishment (CPP) and level of alcohol use disorder (AUD), using two different approaches to take other childhood adversities into account. Population survey using face-to-face interviews to a representative sample of non-institutionalized adult residents of Beijing and Shanghai, China. A total of 5201 participants aged 18-70 years. A version of the World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used. Standardized assessments covered early life experiences of childhood physical punishment, other childhood adversities, parental drinking problems, childhood conduct problems and clinical features of AUD. A robust association linking CPP and level of AUD was found, holding other childhood adversities constant (probit coefficient = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.40, 1.00) via covariate terms in structural equations modeling. Furthermore, there was evidence that CPP might exert an additional influence on level of AUD over and above a generally noxious family environment (probit coefficient = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.02, 0.38). There appears to be a robust association between reports of harsh punishment in childhood and alcohol dependence in adulthood adjusting for a range of possible confounding factors. Whether the association is causal or whether both are related to a common underlying factor or recall bias needs to be investigated further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the current study is to estimate a link between early physical punishment in childhood and later alcohol outcomes, taking family history of drinking problems into account, with epidemiological data from China. The yield from previous studies on this relationship is mixed evidence, largely traceable to research design variations, including model specifications that concern parental alcohol or other drug problems (AODPs) that might account for both earlier discipline practices and later drinking problems in the offspring. Method: Data are from the World Mental Health Surveys-metropolitan China study, with cross-sectional representative sample surveys of adult household residents living in two metropolitan cities, Beijing and Shanghai. Participants in this general mental health survey were asked about early life experiences (e.g., parental AODP, childhood misbehavior), as well as their own drinking outcomes. Stratification was used to control for parental AODP. Results: Logistic regressions found robust associations linking childhood physical punishment with drinking outcomes, even with stratification for parental AODP and childhood misbehavior. Conclusions: These results from a cross-sectional survey lay a foundation for future prospective and longitudinal research on possible causal relationships that link childhood physical punishment with later drinking outcomes in China. (.1 Stud. Alcohol Drugs, 72, 24-33, 2011) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recently active mental disorders are associated with substantial disability, but there is little research on residual disability once symptoms have subsided. The aim of this study is to estimate the degree to which recent disability might be due to recent or past history of mental disorders using a quantile regressions (QR) model that makes it possible to study the full range of disability. Data were from cross-sectional surveys of Chinese living in Beijing and Shanghai, China (n=1628). The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule and the WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview were used to assess recent disability and common mental disorders, respectively. Recently active mental disorders are found to be associated with elevated levels of disability, especially for current substance use disorder. Anxiety disorders stand out with high levels of disability. Individuals at the higher disability levels show large variations in their disability levels. These epidemiological estimates from China add to the evidence based on the global burden of neuropsychiatric disorders, quantifying the hypothesized influence of recently active and past disorders with the novel QR approach. In future studies, we hope to complete more detailed studies of the causal role of mental disorders in the development of disability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: There is evidence that alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use may be rising in China, but epidemiological studies that examine several drugs simultaneously and the transition from initial try to current use are limited. The present study provides an epidemiological profile of drug use in contemporary metropolitan China., Methods: A multistage probability sampling method was used to select household-dwelling adults in Beijing and Shanghai. Standard face-to-face interviews with 5,201 participants were completed during 2002-2003., Results: An estimated 70-76% had used any type of drug: alcohol and tobacco were the most commonly used drugs (alcohol, 67%; tobacco, 39%). Regarding extra-medical use of internationally regulated drugs, sedatives and analgesics were most common and illegal drug use was rare. The majority of tobacco users used it recently (82.5%), especially young adults. Male-female differences were observed in lifetime tobacco use, but not for recent use. Concurrent use of alcohol and tobacco was very common., Conclusion: Psychoactive drug use is common in metropolitan China. Public health policies and prevention initiatives may be needed to address associated problems that may increase following the country's rapid socioeconomic change.