Author: John Carter

Alcohol Use Disorder and Depressive Disorders Alcohol Research: Current Reviews

Variations in this gene might put people at risk for both alcohol misuse and depression. Major depression and alcohol use disorder are also co-dependent in women, research suggests. Women with depression are also more likely to engage in binge drinking. The good news is that treating both alcohol misuse and depression can make both conditions better. A dual diagnosis can be complicated to treat, no matter the circumstances. The most common treatment options are included below, but know that recovery requires a personalized treatment plan that best suits your mental health needs.

Women have been underrepresented in much of the research on co-occurring AUD and depressive disorders, particularly in the early research on this topic. The research needs more representation of women to increase understanding of the sex differences and to better characterize the mechanisms underlying women’s heightened vulnerability for depressive disorders. These populations experience disparities in access to care for AUD and depressive disorders but are underrepresented in studies of these disorders. Many who struggle with alcohol use disorder (AUD), commonly known as alcohol addiction, may also find themselves struggling with co-occurring mental health disorders. It is characterized by feelings of intense sadness and can last for months or even years. Luckily, effective dual diagnosis treatment for AUD and depression exists and can help one achieve and maintain recovery.

Inpatient treatment allows for 24/7 monitoring and care in a hospital or other treatment facility. Nearly one-third of people with major depression also have an alcohol problem. Research shows that depressed kids are more likely to have problems with alcohol a few years down the road. Also, teens who’ve had a bout of major depression are twice as likely to start drinking as those who haven’t. A drink once in a while when you’re stressed out or blue is one thing. But when you need that cocktail every time a problem crops up, it could be a sign of alcohol use disorder.

1. This multi-test approach will help them rule out other conditions that might account for your symptoms.
2. The present review demonstrated that pharmacological treatment alone might not lead to sufficient outcomes of depression treatment in patients with alcohol dependence or SUDs.
3. Additionally, their study demonstrated a significant correlation between the severity of depression symptoms and the frequency of administration of the abused substance and its type [18].
4. For example, a person with frequent episodes of severe depression may turn to drinking to self-medicate.
5. And people with alcohol dependence are 3.7 times more likely to have had MDD in the previous year.

Likewise, if you’re diagnosed with one of these conditions, your doctor may ask about symptoms of the other. This is a common part of diagnosis because both so frequently occur together. Your doctor will likely conduct a physical exam and a psychological evaluation.

Does Depression Drive You to Drink?

In these, you can also find support from others in the same situation. Read our review of the best online therapy options to find the right fit for you. CBT can teach you ways to modify your thoughts and behavior to feel better and help you avoid misusing alcohol. In addition, your doctor may prescribe medicines that are meant to lower alcohol cravings, which can reduce your desire to drink. “Therapeutic interventions designed to address both issues often include a focus on addressing emotional pain or trauma, as well as developing and practicing healthy coping behaviors,” says Kennedy.

People with DSM-IV alcohol dependence are 3.7 times more likely to also have major depressive disorder, and 2.8 times more likely to have dysthymia, in the previous year. Among people in treatment for DSM-IV AUD, almost 33% met criteria for major depressive disorder in the past year, and 11% met criteria for dysthymia. However, major depressive disorder is the most common co-occurring disorder among people who have AUD, partly because it is among the most common disorders in the general population. Depression is a common psychiatric disorder that can occur at different age groups [6].

Signs and Symptoms of Depression

Depression may even cause people to begin consuming large amounts of alcohol. It’s very important to address both alcohol misuse and depression simultaneously when looking into treatment options, as these conditions are closely intertwined and can exacerbate each other, Kennedy explains. Some experts also suggest that both depression and alcohol use disorders share underlying pathophysiology in that they are both neuroinflammatory conditions. Alcohol use disorders may be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the combination of symptoms you’re experiencing, but drinking problems can exist regardless of a clinical diagnosis.

Major depressive disorder involves persistent and prolonged symptoms, but depression, in general, takes on many different forms. Depressive symptoms can result from life stressors, mental health conditions, medical conditions, and other factors. Drinking persistently and excessively can increase your risk of developing a major depressive disorder. It can also aggravate symptoms of pre-existing depression and endanger your health and mental health. A statistical technique such as MSM is only as good as the data available to it, and Visontay et al. are circumspect in acknowledging the limitations, such as unmeasured confounders. Analysis of observational data produces associations from which causality is a conjecture but cannot be proven.

If you’re battling depression, alcohol isn’t going to make you feel better. It may temporarily suppress feelings of isolation, anxiety, or sadness, but that won’t last. Recognizing the symptoms of depression and alcohol use disorder can help ensure that you get the right diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, in a large study by Albrecht et al., the risk of traumatic brain injury was evaluated in patients with alcohol dependence and depression.

For clinicians, the priority remains to screen patients for escalation from low-level to problem-level drinking. Screening for above-guideline drinking has demonstrated efficacy in primary care settings and is a recommended practice (15, 16). Screening for alcohol and other substance use and misuse is particularly important in psychiatric practice given the potential for disordered substance use to worsen the course of psychiatric disorders or produce substance-induced mental disorders.

What is Depression?

In one 2018 study, 60 people who recently detoxed from alcohol experienced fewer depressive symptoms after participating in Sudarshan Kriya Yoga for just 2 weeks. Recovering from depression and AUD is difficult because the disorders can worsen one another. Often, people turn to alcohol to help relieve their depression symptoms. Still, many people who receive a diagnosis of substance-induced depression are later re-diagnosed as having depression because symptoms continue after they stop drinking.

Why does depression make recovery from AUD harder?

People who are depressed and drink too much have more frequent and severe episodes of depression, and are more likely to think about suicide. However, the flip side is that people who frequently use alcohol are more likely to also be depressed. Drinking a lot may worsen these feelings, which may actually drive further drinking.

Next, we selected data from eligible studies and then revised them through the Excel sheet. We reviewed any articles published by one research group investigating similar variables for any possible duplication. Cochrane, a quality assessment tool, was also used to evaluate the included studies [14]. Crystal Raypole has previously worked as a writer and editor for GoodTherapy. Her fields of interest include Asian languages and literature, Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health. In particular, she’s committed to helping decrease stigma around mental health issues.

Experts say that women are more likely than men to overdo it when they’re down. That’s why your doctor or psychologist will work with you to create a treatment approach that addresses both issues. Alcohol use disorder and depression are two conditions that often occur together. What’s more, one can make the other worse in a cycle that’s pervasive and problematic if not addressed and treated. Depending on the severity of the disorders, you may need more intense treatment, such as outpatient care, integrated assertive community (ACT) treatment or a residential stay, which may be required to begin or continue your recovery journey.

Despite the availability of several evidence-based medications and behavioral therapy approaches for treating co-occurring AUD and depressive disorders, improvements in treatment for this population are clearly needed. Consideration of disorder heterogeneity and key subgroup differences may help develop more targeted and personalized treatments to improve outcomes for this population. Finally, the etiology, course, and treatment of both AUD and depression differ substantially by gender.