Does depression predict relapse in the 6 months following treatment for men with alcohol dependence?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether depression measured at the time of treatment predicts relapse of alcohol dependence in the 6 months following treatment of alcohol-dependent men.


METHODS
Ninety-three subjects with moderate-severe alcohol dependence (DSM-III-R), recruited from a 3-week, abstinence-focused therapeutic program, were assessed for current and lifetime major depression using the SCID-P and baseline depressive symptoms using the SCL-90, and then followed up for 6 months. Drinking outcomes were based on multiple sources of data.


RESULTS
Relapse was not associated with either lifetime major depression, or baseline depressive symptoms; inadequate numbers of subjects with a current major depression precluded statistical analysis of this variable.


CONCLUSIONS
Neither lifetime major depression, nor the degree of depressive symptoms in alcohol-dependent men at the time of treatment, compromise drinking outcomes in the 6 months following treatment.
Sellman
J D
JD
Department of Psychological Medicine, Christchurch School of Medicine, New Zealand.
Joyce
P R
PR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome