Few studies estimate rural psychiatric disorder rates. No study has reported either DSM-III-R or DSM IV disorder prevalence
and mental health service use among US rural young adults. This paper reports psychiatric disorder prevalence, comorbidity,
service utilization, and disorder correlates in a community sample of 536 young adults, aged 19 to 23 years, living in the
rural Midwestern US. More than 60% of the sample met criteria for a lifetime disorder. Substance use disorders were most prevalent.
Results indicate that young adults living in the rural Midwest demonstrate substantial rates of psychiatric disorder that
are comparable to other population groups.
Martha A. Rueter is affiliated with the Department of Family Social Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108,
USA
Kristen E. Holm is affiliated with the National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, CO, USA
Rebecca Burzette is affiliated with the Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
Kee Jeong Kim and Rand D. Conger are affiliated with the University of California, Davis, CA, USA