A 2012 study found that 63.8% of people who are dependent on alcohol are also depressed. This systematic review was conducted based on the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) checklist recommendations for systematic review and meta-analysis [13]. This systematic review was performed by searching electronic databases to include eligible trials from 2010 till September 2020 in four databases, including Medline, PsycInfo, Embase, and Ovid. If you’re alcohol and depression concerned alcohol has become your go-to method of managing negative feelings like depression, there’s no shame in reaching out for support. When you have healthy habits in place to cope with unwanted feelings, you’ll probably find it easier to use these strategies to push back against distressing emotions you might experience while drinking. Drinking water may not have a direct impact on feelings of depression, but rehydrating can absolutely help you start feeling better physically.
Drinking to cope can become a pattern
The distinction is important, because symptoms might be only temporary, whereas true psychiatric disorders are likely to require long-term and more intensive treatments, including psychotherapy and medication. Thus, few of the investigations offered assurance that an alcoholic or alcoholic’s relative actually had a long-term psychiatric syndrome rather than a temporary alcohol-induced condition. Similarly, in the absence of clear evidence of a long-term major anxiety disorder that predates the onset of alcoholism or that remains intense after an extended period of abstinence, few indications exist for using medications related to anxiety for alcoholics. Panic attacks that are likely to develop during alcohol withdrawal are also likely to diminish in frequency and intensity on their own without medications (Schuckit and Hesselbrock 1994).
Alcohol and Depression: The Link Between Alcoholism and Depression
- Physical symptoms can include changes in appetite or weight (usually decreased, but sometimes increased), lack of energy, low sex drive and disturbed sleep.
- This may be because MDD is one of the most common conditions in the general population.
- If you or someone you care about is struggling with depression and alcohol misuse, you may be interested in learning more about how alcohol can play a role in depression and vice versa, as well as the different factors that can affect alcohol, depression, and addiction.
- As needed, you can refer to a mental health specialist for a complete assessment.
In the DSM-5, AUD requires at least two symptoms, whereas DSM-IV alcohol abuse required only one symptom. Also, from DSM-IV to DSM-5, modifications were made to the symptoms that were included as diagnostic criteria. For example, the criterion of legal problems related to alcohol was removed, and the criterion of alcohol craving was added. Thus, where possible, this review identifies which version of the DSM was used in a study. If you have certain conditions, including depression, you could be at an increased risk of getting alcohol use disorder. Your symptoms can range from mild to severe and can include drinking more than you meant to, having trouble cutting back on drinking when you try, or being unable to quit drinking even though it’s causing problems in your daily life and relationships.
- Depression diagnosed in the current episode of alcohol dependence normally remits after 2 weeks of detoxification and abstinence and falls to normal range within 3 weeks [11, 12].
- In addition those who were depressed at six months had more severe craving for alcohol than those who were not depressed (P value 0.03).
- If you believe you’re susceptible of experiencing alcohol addiction or depression, you may want to speak with a mental health professional, such as a social worker, counselor, or therapist, about these concerns and how best to prevent or cope with these disorders.
- This is close to a higher limit (68%) of the estimated prevalence of cooccurrence of depression and alcohol dependence [10].
Alcohol Use Disorder and Depression
Research-based evidence would prompt clinicians to screen for depression in alcohol-dependent persons. The causal effect of AUD leading to depression implies that some cases of depression resolve after treatment of alcohol dependence [12, 30–33]. Persons that use alcohol to relieve depressive symptoms may require treatment for depression to achieve full remission after alcohol use disorder treatment [18].
Afterward, we evaluated references of the selected trials to identify any related articles. Finally, we gathered the required data sets from the final record of eligible articles and summarized. We excluded articles that were review studies, those https://ecosoberhouse.com/ with overlapped or incomplete data, in vitro studies, and unavailability of full-text articles or inappropriate study design (Figure (Figure11). Whether depression is a stand-alone diagnosis or caused by drinking, alcohol often worsens symptoms.
Alcohol Addiction & Depression
Antidepressants and alcohol: What’s the concern?
