Relationships Among Independent Major Depressions, Alcohol Use, and Other Substance Use and Related Problems Over 30 Years in 397 Families

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Objective: Although heavy drinking is related to sadness on multiple levels, the link between alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and major depressive episodes (MDEs) is more controversial. One complicating factor is that some MDEs are temporary and only occur in the context of heavy drinking, whereas other MDEs are longer lasting and occur independently of intense alcohol intake (i.e., independent depressive episodes [IDEs]). We hypothesized that a longitudinal study that uses validated interviews with subjects and relatives and distinguishes between IDEs and alcohol-induced depressive episodes would reveal little evidence of a link between IDEs and AUDs. Method: Histories of AUDs, IDEs, and substance-induced depressions were prospectively evaluated over 30 years in 397 male probands from the San Diego Prospective Study and in their 449 offspring using questions extracted from the Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism interview. Results: The rate of IDEs over 30 years in the 397 probands was 15.3% overall. Among probands who developed AUDs, 31% of their depressive episodes were substance induced, not IDEs. For these men followed over 3 decades, those with IDEs had no increased rate of AUDs and evidenced no higher rate of use or abuse/dependence on illicit substances. Similar conclusions applied to their 449 offspring ages 12 years and older. Conclusions: These data support the importance of distinguishing between IDE and substance-induced depressions when evaluating the relationship between AUDs and depression syndromes. (J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs, 74, 271-279, 2013)

Gender Differences in the Relationships Among Major Depressive Disorder, Heavy Alcohol Use, and Mental Health Treatment Engagement Among College Students

“…On the one hand, among undergraduate students, heavy drinking may lead to MDD. Indeed, alcohol is a depressant, and it has been shown that in some people depression can be induced by heavy alcohol use (Schuckit et al, 2013). Moreover, students who consume more alcohol and engage in more frequent heavy drinking are at higher risk for experiencing alcohol-related consequences (e.g., academic or relationship difficulties) that may lead to MDD.…”

Drinking to cope with negative emotions moderates alcohol use disorder treatment response in patients with co-occurring anxiety disorder

“…In line with this distinction, Schuckit et al (2013) conducted a 30-year follow-up of young adults to track the development and course of major depression and AUD. They found a significantly elevated association between depression and AUD among those reporting temporal proximity between their depressive episodes and bouts of heavy drinking (about 30% of all depressive episodes) but no significant elevation for AUD among those whose depressive episodes were not temporally proximal to heavy drinking.…”

Patología dual en Depresión: recomendaciones en el tratamiento

“…Se ha observado que en el caso de los TUS por cocaína, opiáceos o en policonsumidores el episodio de DM suele ocurrir con mayor frecuencia de forma independiente del consumo (Torrens, Gilchrist, y Domingo-Salvany, 2011) mientras que en el caso del alcohol se ha descrito una mayor prevalencia de asociación con DM inducida (Schuckit, Smith, y Kalmijn, 2013). Sin embargo se pueden encontrar ambos tipos de depresiones (primarias e inducidas) en el mismo paciente (Langås, Malt, y Opjordsmoen, 2013; To-el tratamiento.…”