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The prevalence and clinical implications of self-medication among individuals with anxiety disorders.
- Source :
-
Journal of anxiety disorders [J Anxiety Disord] 2011 Apr; Vol. 25 (3), pp. 335-9. Date of Electronic Publication: 2010 Oct 28. - Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Alcohol dependence (AD) is more likely to occur among individuals with rather than without an anxiety disorder. Self-medication theory (SMT) holds that drinking behavior is negatively reinforced when alcohol temporarily reduces anxiety and that the resulting escalation of drinking increases the risk for AD. We set out to empirically scrutinize SMT using the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) dataset. We found that only a minority (about 20%) of anxiety disordered individuals endorsed drinking to control anxiety symptoms. This minority drank more alcohol, had a higher cross-sectional rate of AD, and was at higher risk for developing new AD over four years compared to anxiety disordered non-self-medicators and individuals with no anxiety disorder. Consistent with SMT, increased prospective risk for AD among self-medicators is partially mediated by an increased level of alcohol use. Understanding the processes that promote and inhibit self-medication should be a priority for anxiety disorder researchers.<br /> (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Alcohol Drinking drug therapy
Alcohol Drinking psychology
Alcohol-Related Disorders drug therapy
Alcohol-Related Disorders psychology
Anxiety drug therapy
Anxiety psychology
Anxiety Disorders drug therapy
Anxiety Disorders psychology
Comorbidity
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Prevalence
Risk
Self Medication psychology
Alcohol Drinking epidemiology
Alcohol-Related Disorders epidemiology
Anxiety epidemiology
Anxiety Disorders epidemiology
Self Medication statistics & numerical data
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1873-7897
- Volume :
- 25
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of anxiety disorders
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 21094020
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2010.10.006