Return to the PIE Home PageThe National Comorbidity Survey (1991) estimates that 48.0% of the population age 15 to 54, approximately 84.5 million people, had some type of alcohol, drug abuse, or mental health (ADM) disorder over the course of their lifetime. For 21.4% of the population the disorder was a mental health disorder, such as affective, anxiety, or antisocial disorders. 12.9% of the population had a substance abuse/dependence disorder and 13.7% had both a substance abuse/dependence and mental health disorder in their lifetime.
Another way to measure prevalence of ADM disorders is to estimate how many people have any of these disorders over the course of one year. In 1990, of the general population, age 15 - 54 years, 29.5% had a substance abuse or mental disorder. There were significant differences between the sexes. According to the survey report, "...men are more likely than women to have substance abuse disorders which include alcohol and other drug abuse and dependence. Men also are more likely to have antisocial personality disorder. Women, in contrast, are more likely to have affective disorders (such as depression) and anxiety disorders (such as panic attacks and phobias)".
Lifetime Past Year
Percent Number* Percent Number*
Any ADM Disorder 48.0 84.5 29.5 51.9
Only Mental Disorder 21.4 37.7 18.2 32.1
Only Sub Abuse/Dep 12.9 22.7 6.6 11.6
Both Substance Abuse
and Mental Disorder 13.7 24.1 4.7 8.3
*Number in millions of people
Life time Past Year
Men Women Men Women
Affective Disorder 14.7 23.9 8.5 14.1
Anxiety Disorder 19.2 30.5 11.8 22.6
Antisocial Person-
ality Disorder 5.8 1.2 NA NA
Non Affective
Psychosis 0.6 0.8 0.5 0.6
Substance Abuse/Dep 35.4 17.9 16.1 6.6
NA: Data are not available
Life Time Past Year
Any Affective Disorders 19.3 11.3
Major Depressive Episode 17.1 10.3
Manic Episode 1.6 1.3
Dysthymia 6.4 2.5
Any Anxiety Disorders 24.9 17.2
Panic Disorder 3.5 2.3
Agoraphobia without Panic
Disorder 5.3 2.8
Social Phobia 13.3 7.9
Simple Phobia 11.3 8.8
Generalized Anxiety Disorder 5.1 3.1
Antisocial Personality 3.5 NA
Non Affective Psychosis 0.7 0.5
NA: Data are not available
Note: Affective disorders include major depressive episode, manic episode and, dysthymia. Anxiety disorders include panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia, simple phobia, and generalized anxiety disorder. Non-affective psychoses include schizophrenias, delusional disorder, and atypical psychoses. Substance abuse disorder includes both abuse and dependence on alcohol and other drugs.
Source:Substance Abuse and Mental Health Statistical Sourcebook, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Filename: PS-032