title: [Alcohol dependence and affective disorders].
abstract: The complex relationship between alcohol dependence and affective disorder has long been noted. Alcohol is capable of producing sadness in both alcoholics and nonalcoholics, but this sadness is time-limited and should not be confused with an affective disorder. Secondary alcohol dependence can occur in the midst of almost any psychiatric disorder. However, primary alcohol dependence with secondary affective disorder is not seen so often in inpatient alcoholics. There have been a large number of genetic-marker studies in the attempt to detect association and linkage with alcohol dependence, but there is no consistent evidence of genetic overlap between alcohol dependence and affective disorders. The administration of lithium may be useful in the treatment of alcohol dependence, but further research is required to determine whether lithium is useful in the treatment of depressive state of alcohol dependence.
authors.affiliation: Facility of Health Care Services for the Elderly Hilltop Roman.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kato
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology