Gender Differences in Anxiety and Depression before and after Alcohol Detoxification: Anxiety and Depression as Gender-Related Predictors of Relapse

Abstract

Background/Aims: The aim of this prospective study was to estimate gender differences in anxiety, depression, and alcohol use severity among patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) before and after detoxification program and within 12 months after discharge. Methods: AUD severity, state and trait anxiety, and depression were assessed in 187 patients entering an inpatient alcohol detoxification program. Follow-up assessments were performed at 6 and 12 months after discharge. A between- and within-subjects analyses explored gender differences. The predictive value of anxiety and depression for alcohol relapse was analyzed by logistic and linear regression in both genders. Results: Females had higher levels of anxiety and depression than males both at admission and after discharge. Trait anxiety and depression significantly increased 6 months after discharge in males and females respectively. Both state and trait anxiety levels at the 6-month follow-up predicted alcohol relapse at the 12-month follow-up in males. Conversely, in females, depression level at the 6-month follow-up was a predictor of relapse at the 12-month follow-up. Conclusions: In both genders, the psychopathological dimension that showed the most significant worsening at 6-month follow-up (i.e., anxiety in males and depression in females) was found to be a significant predictor of relapse at the 12-month follow-up.

Sex and Gender Effects in Recovery from Alcohol Use Disorder

“…A third study also found that women were more likely to report high anxiety and depression at alcohol detoxification admission and discharge compared to men. 29 In that study, both genders showed increased anxiety and depression symptoms at 6-month follow-up, with more anxiety symptoms predicting men’s relapse at 12-month follow-up and more depression symptoms predicting women’s relapse at 12-month follow-up. 29 …”

Alcohol use in pregnancy and its impact on the mother and child

“…As the child ages, psychiatric disorders may manifest. Adolescents (age 13‐18) with FASD have a high prevalence of suicidal ideation (35.2%) and suicide attempts in males [19.5 times higher than normal,136]. Depression and anxiety disorders are common, postulated to be due to life‐long dysregulation of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis [137] and continue until adulthood [138].…”

“…Women were also more likely than men to think that improvement in alcohol‐use would occur without help (47% versus 24%) and thus less likely to seek therapy [16]. Unfortunately, women, due to lower body mass and free body water, are more prone to alcohol related complications than men, including cirrhosis [17], cardiovascular disorders [18], mental health disorders [19] and death [20].…”

Treatment of Depression With Alcohol and Substance Dependence: A Systematic Review

“…Depression is a common psychiatric disorder that can occur at different age groups [ 6 ]. Although there are multiple medications used for managing depression, treatment success is usually low, especially in patients with alcohol dependence or SUDs [ 9 ].…”

“…The association between substance use and depression has been specified more significantly for some substances, including alcohol, cannabis, and opioids. Some data are also available on stimulant agents and benzodiazepines [ 6 ].…”