Influence of depression and early adverse experiences on illicit drug dependence: a case-control study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between depression and illicit drug dependence among a Latin-American population. METHOD: illicit drug dependent patients (n = 137) and controls (n = 274) were interviewed using the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies, in order to detect lifetime and current depressive disorder and illicit (cocaine, cannabis or inhalants) substance dependence. A regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratio for drug dependence according to the diagnosis of depression. RESULTS: The lifetime diagnosis of depression (p = 0.001; OR = 4.9; 95% CI, 1.9-12.7) predicts illegal drugs dependence. Sociodemographic variables such as male gender (p < 0.001; OR = 36.8; 95% CI, 11.8-114) and occupational situation (p = 0.002; OR = 5.0; 95% CI, 1.8-13) as well as alcohol dependence (p = 0.01; OR = 3.4; 95% CI, 1.3-8.7) significantly influenced depression and drug dependence. Additional influent factors detected were having parents (p = 0.006; OR = 18.9; 95% CI, 2.3-158) or friends (p < 0.001; OR = 64.4; 95% CI, 6.5-636) who are illicit drugs dependents. CONCLUSION: although a causal relationship between dependence on illicit drugs and depression cannot be determined, comparison of the sequence of events point to the occurrence of depression later in life than dependence. It remains to be determined whether depression is a comorbidity of dependence, sharing etiological factors, or a consequence of drug abuse and/or abstinence.

Oral Changes For Poly Drug Users: Multicenter Study

“…The same situation was reported in other studies, which indicate low monthly income, in general [14].…”

Quality of life and depressive symptoms among caregivers and drug dependent people

“…The high proportion of male users confirms the tendency of a strong presence of this gender in the services of care for drug dependent people. Studies developed with this population have demonstrated that men use illicit drugs more in relation to women, and accredit being male as a risk factor for drug dependence (9,16) .…”

“…The investigation of the association between depression and dependence on illicit drugs among the population of Latin America, showed that 58.4% of illicit drug users presented depression according to the DSM IV criteria (16) .…”

Consumo de sustancias y síntomas depresivos en escolares de liceos municipales de Santiago

“…Se encontró que a mayor cantidad del consumo de una sustancia, sea tabaco, alcohol o marihuana, mayor es la probabilidad de que adolescentes presenten síntomas depresivos clínicamente significativos; y la asociación se hace más marcada a mayor intensidad de la sintomatología depresiva. Varias hipótesis se han propuesto para esta asociación, especialmente aquella que sostiene que las sustancias serían consumidas como automedicación para calmar la sintomatología depresiva 26,37,38 . El grupo de investigación no tiene data para poder explorar las motivaciones que tuvieron los adolescentes para consumir sustancias dado que tenían síntomas depresivos, y debido a que este es un análisis transversal, no podemos establecer una asociación causal debido al efecto de causalidad reversa 39 .…”

“…Las cifras parecen ser consistentes con otros estudios a nivel nacional [10][11][12] , y superiores a las comunicadas por la literatura internacional 35,36 . La diferencia entre los sexos es un hecho ya conocido de la epidemiología psiquiátrica 37 . Nuestros hallazgos indican que en el tratarev Med chile 2012; 140: 184-191 consumo de sustancias y síntomas depresivos en escolares chilenos -g. rojas et al miento de los adolescentes deprimidos debe ser considerado el estudio del uso de sustancias de abuso y viceversa, debido a la alta asociación entre ambas variables.…”