Study Finds Repeat DUI Offenders Have High Mental Illness Rates

A new study shows that alcohol may not be the only problem for repeat drunk drivers. More than half of DUI offenders also suffer from at least one mental illness in
addition to a drug or alcohol-use disorder. The study found almost 60
percent of those with two or more DUI convictions reported experiencing
major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder or
posttraumatic stress disorder over their lifetime.



The study consisted of people convicted of at least two DUI offenses in
the past 10 years, and 40 percent had three or more DUI arrests. The
majority of both men and women reported having at least one psychiatric
disorder, as well as alcohol- or drug-abuse or dependence. Women had higher
rates of depression than men and were more likely to suffer PTSD.



"People who deal with drug and alcohol abusers need to understand there
are often other disorders that need to be dealt with as well," said Sandra
Lapham, M.D., M.P.H., principal investigator of the study. "That's why we
need to screen repeat offenders for multiple disorders. The offender should
be viewed as a unique person with a unique set of issues. If they include
psychiatric problems, these should be treated along with drug and alcohol
issues."



Lapham is director of the PIRE Behavioral Health Research Center of the
Southwest in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She says the data suggests DUI
evaluations by the courts and treatment programs should include psychiatric
screening and assessments.



The study participants were part of a three-year program called Driving
Under the Influence of Intoxicants Intensive Supervision Program (DISP)
developed by Multnomah County Circuit Court in Portland, Oregon. The
volunteer program requires intensive probation, close monitoring and
built-in punishments and rewards, in exchange for reduced jail time.



"The results of this study should encourage the courts to develop a
more comprehensive approach to dealing with the hard-to-treat drinking
driver," says Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Eric J. Bloch.


"Assessing the mental health of a DUI offender will help us choose the
program that will reduce the chance of a re-offense."



The study published in the September edition of Journal of Studies on
Alcohol was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism.



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