1. To carry out studies of mental disorders, behavioral problems and their associated features in the adult, child and adolescent population of Puerto Rico.

2. To translate, adapt to the Puerto Rican culture, and test the psychometric properties of the various diagnostic instruments used in the research performed.

3. To develop methodologies and theoretical models which are applicable to research with Hispanic and other minority populations within the United States.

4. To promote collaborative research with other Research Centers and researchers within and outside of the island, including European Research Centers.

5. To provide the training of students in basic research skills, both within and outside our University, particularly among Latin America. Various mechanisms are used to fund trainees, but the most frequent mechanism used is the minority supplement awards sponsored by NIH.

1. The Development and Testing of the Spanish AUDADIS, Dr. Glorisa Canino (PI), (1 R01 AA09990-01).

To translate and adapt to Spanish the AUDADIS for use in Hispanic populations, in particular Puerto Ricans. The AUDADIS is a diagnostic instrument designed to assess alcohol abuse/dependence, alcohol use patterns and its associated disabilities.

Project results will be published in 1998.

2. The Testing of the Substance Abuse Modules of the Spanish CIDI: Prof. Maritza Rubio-Stipec (PI). This is a collaborative study between the Behavioral Sciences Research Institute and the WHO and several other sites around the world. The main goal of this project is to establish the reliability and validity of the alcohol and drug abuse/dependence modules of the Spanish Composite International Diagnostic Interview Schedule (CIDI). This instrument is designed to assess specific psychiatric disorders in epidemiological studies. Diagnoses for the CIDI are made by computer algorithms that implement the Revised Third Diagnostic Statistical Manual criteria of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-III-R) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). The DSM-IV criteria being incorporated. The project is a three years project and is presently in its third year of implementation.

3. Vulnerability of Drug Abuse in Puerto Rican Children: A Migrant Study

(1 R01 DA09055-01A1): Dr. Kathleen Merikangas (PI), Dr. Glorisa Canino (Co-PI). This 5-year study is being funded presently by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA).

To investigate the role of specific socio-cultural factors in the development of substance abuse through the application of a migrant study design, to elucidate familial patterns of substance abuse and comorbid emotional, cognitive and behavioral disorders in a Puerto Rican sample group, which has not been examined in previous studies.

The pilot study of this project will be implemented in early 1998. 

4. Service Use, Need Outcomes in Puerto Rican Children

(1R01 MH54827-01): Dr. Glorisa Canino (PI). This application was recently funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Characterize services provided across the major service sectors for children 4-17 years, describe use and patterns of care within and across the services sectors, identify individual, family, and neighborhood factors that predict mental health problems in children, and identify clinical and functional outcomes for children who use and do not use services, both in the community and the service sectors.

The pilot study of this project will be implemented in early 1998.

5. Antisocial Behaviors in U.S. and Island Puerto Rican Youth, Dr. Hector Bird (PI), Dr. Glorisa Canino (Co-PI). (Grant # RO1 MH56401-01). This application is pending funding.

The proposed longitudinal study of psychopathology compares the development, the comorbidities and the risk factors of disruptive disorders and antisocial behavior in Puerto Rican children and adolescents in Puerto Rico and the mainland U.S.