To identify prevalence rates and related patient characteristics associated with depression, alcohol use disorders (AUD), and nicotine dependence among individuals admitted to a university general hospital.

4352 consecutively admitted patients were assessed using the HAD scale and AUDIT. They were also asked on daily cigarette smoking during the previous month. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed.

56.6% were male. The average age was 49.3. Prevalence rates of depressive disorder, AUD and nicotine dependence were, respectively, 14%, 9.8% and 16.9%. In the multivariate analysis depression was associated with previous suicide attempt (OR = 8.7), less schooling (3.6), prior use of psychotropic medicines (3.1), cancer (1.7) and pain (1.7). AUD were associated with male sex (OR = 6.3), smoking (3.5), admission for an external cause (2.4), mainly road accidents, and previous suicide attempt (2.3). Nicotine dependence was associated with AUD (OR = 3.4), young adulthood (2.3), widowhood (2.2) and previous suicide attempt (1.8).

This is the largest sample of medical and surgical inpatients surveyed by standardized screening instrument, for 13 months, in a Brazilian general hospital. High prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders and respective patient profiles highlight the need to develop more effective methods for detecting and managing these disorders. Hospital admission should be considered a milestone in a person's life from which a psychiatric disorder is detected and specific treatment strategies are implemented.