title: Symptoms of depression, suicidal behaviour and use of substances in Greece: a nationwide general population survey.
abstract: This study aimed at investigating the relationship between the use of unprescribed licit and illicit drugs and problematic drinking with reported depressive symptoms and suicidal behaviour in a nationwide general population sample of 4291 respondents aged 12 to 64. Depressive symptoms were detected by the use of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). A higher proportion of respondents who have reported illicit drug use in their lifetime were found to be depressed with a > 16 score in the CES-D in all age groups and both sexes, than of the other categories of substance use. A multiple range test revealed 3 groups of substance users. The more frequent illicit drug users together with the problematic drinkers exhibited the higher average depressive symptoms scores. The 12-month prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts was found to be in accordance with the severity and frequency of substance consumption.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Madianos
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gefou-Madianou
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Stefanis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs