This volume represents a landmark in the important and rapidly expanding literature of cross-cultural epidemiology that has been made possible by the worldwide popularity of the DSM-III and the multi-national use of a single survey instrument: the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS). Reviewing population survey findings across ten regions of North America, Europe, and Asia, this study is the first direct cross-national comparison of personal interview data on alcoholism, including prevalence rates and risk factors. The book carefully describes the background of the various surveys and the methods of analysis and comparison. Chapters on each region describe the prevalence of drinking problems, the symptomatic expression of alcoholism in that culture, aspects of the cultural background that are relevant to drinking behavior, and the association between alcoholism and other psychiatric disorders. Of particular importance in this volume is the inclusion of a chapter on alcoholism in the Socialist Republic of China, from which very little scientific information has been readily available. The inclusion of eastern and western cultural perspectives offers insight into both universal and culturally distinct aspects of alcoholism. The volume is essential reading for psychiatrists, epidemiologists, sociologists, and alcohol theorists, researchers and clinicians.

PART I: Introduction 1. Epidemiology and Cross-National Comparisons, J.E. Helzer 2. Development of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule, J.E. Helzer 3. Contributions of Anthropology and Sociology to Alcohol Epidemiology, J.M. Murphy 4. Cross-Cultural Research on Alcohol: A Quoi Bon?, T.F. Babor 5. Recent Advances in the Investigation of the Epidemiology of Alcohol Abuse, P.J. Leaf PART II: North America 6. Five Communities in the United States: Results of the Epidemiological Catchment Area Survey, J.E. Helzer 7. Alcohol Abuse and Dependence in Edmonton, Canada, R.C. Bland 8. Alcohol Abuse and Dependence Among American Indians, Spero M. Manson 9. The Prevalence of Alcohol Abuse and/or Dependence in Two Hispanic Communities, G.J. Canino PART III: Europe 10. Use, Abuse, and Dependence of Alcohol in West Germany: Lifetime and Six-Month Prevalence in the Munich Follow-up Study, Hans-Ulrich Wittchen 11. Alcoholism, Culture, and Psychopathology: A Comparative Study of French, French-Canadian, and American Alcoholics, T. Clark PART IV: Asia and the Pacific 12. Alcohol Abuse and Dependence in New Zealand, J. Elizabeth Wells 13. Alcoholism in Taiwan Chinese Communities, Eng-Kung Yeh 14. Alcoholism in Korea, Chung Kyoon Lee 15. Alcohol Use, Abuse, and Dependency in Shanghai, Chang-Hua Wang PART V: Conclusions 16. Comparative Analysis of Alcoholism in Ten Cultural Regions, J. E. Helzer

"The book under review is a report of epidemiology studies of alcoholism of breadth and magnitude beyond anything previously attained. The text discusses the limitations and reliability of the resulting data consequent on local adaptation of the assessment process, and presents results that show both remarkable consistency and surprising differences in cross-national results. Further refinements in the methods, the instruments, and their local adaptation are in order, but this trailblazing work represents the first fruit of progress to date." --Readings |k No