A Review of Co - Morbid Depression Among the Patients With Alcohol Dependence

Abstract

Co-morbidity is "the occurrence of 2 or more distinct psychiatric disorders at the same time". Clinical and general population studies show that alcohol abuse or dependence and major depression often coexist. The presence of co-morbid conditions, such as alcohol dependence (AD) and major depression, has important implications for patient functioning and prognosis, including difficulties in case identification, treatment effectiveness and compliance, altered pharmacokinetics, and increased chronicity of both conditions. Although depression and alcohol dependence commonly coexist in community and treatment-seeking populations, there is no clear consensus on appropriate assessment and treatment of patients who present with symptoms of both disorders. To make appropriate treatment decisions, clinicians must know the likely effects of depression on drinking outcomes. This article reviews the relation between co-morbid depression and alcohol dependence.