Treatment of depression in alcoholics

Although depression decreased in both groups of depressed alcoholics given either placebo or chlordiazepoxide-imipramine, this finding was not supported by the Beck Depression Inventory or by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, indicating the necessity for use of multiple assessment instruments.

Abstract

The authors compared two groups of depressed alcoholics given either placebo or chlordiazepoxide-imipramine in a double-blind study. Although depression decreased in both groups, there were no significant differences between them on any of three pre- and posttreament measures. The Zung scale showed that medication decreased depression significantly, however, this finding was not supported by the Beck Depression Inventory or by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, indicating the necessity for use of multiple assessment instruments.