Secondary depression in alcoholism: Implications for future research

Comprehensive PsychiatryPublished 1 November 1981

Frederick Petty, Henry A. Nasrallah

DOI10.1016/0010-440x(81)90007-9

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Citations29

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SJR score1.72

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TL;DR

The literature on secondary depression in alcoholism is examined in an attempt to clarify the parameters which may account for a very wide range in the reported frequency of depression among alcoholics.

Abstract

While an association between excessive consumption of alcohol and depression has long been suspected it has only recently been demonstrated. This is probably due to the fact that only during the last 15 years have research diagnostic criteria for both alcoholism and depression been developed. The relationship between alcoholism and depression appears to be unidirectional in that the presence of an affective disorder does not seem to predispose to alcoholism (except perhaps in women), whereas the presence of alcoholism does appear to lead to subsequent development of depressive symptomatology. Unfortunately, there is a very wide range in the reported frequency of depression among alcoholics. We will examine the literature on secondary depression in alcoholism in an attempt to clarify the parameters which may account for this.

Keywords

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