Family factors associated with the use of psychotropic drugs, alcohol abuse, and minor psychiatric morbidity in the community

Investigated the association of family health and family structure factors with psychotropic drug consumption, alcohol abuse, and minor psychiatric morbidity. Data from 167 men and 84 women show that a General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) score of 5 or above was best predicted by undesirable events, sex, the number of generations, marital status, and the number of family members with a high GHQ score. Psychotropic drug consumption was best predicted by the number of family members with distress manifestations, while alcohol abuse in men was predicted best by events of the "exit" type described by E. S. Paykel and S. P. Mangen (1980). (PsycLIT Database Copyright 1989 American Psychological Assn, all rights reserved