To establish the prevalence, correlates, comorbidity, and treatment gap of alcohol use disorders in the Singapore resident population.
The Singapore Mental Health Study is a cross-sectional epidemiological survey.
A nationally representative survey of the resident (citizens and permanent residents) population in Singapore.
6616 Singaporean adults aged 18 years and older.
The diagnoses were established using the World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview (WMH-CIDI) diagnostic modules for lifetime and 12-month prevalence of select mental illnesses including alcohol use disorders.
The lifetime prevalence of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence was 3.1% and 0.5%, while the 12-month prevalence of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence was 0.5% and 0.3%, respectively. The lifetime and 12-month prevalence of alcohol use disorders was 3.6% and 0.8%, respectively. Those with alcohol use disorder had significantly higher odds of having major depressive disorder (OR 3.1) and nicotine dependence (OR 4.5). Compared to the rest of the population, those with an alcohol use disorder had significantly higher odds of having gastric ulcers (OR 3.0), respiratory conditions OR (2.1) and chronic pain (OR 2.1). Only 1 in 5 of those with alcohol use disorder had ever sought treatment.
