title: Co-morbid depression and drinking outcome in those with alcohol dependence.
abstract: Depressed and non-depressed (pre-admission and post-detoxification) alcohol-dependent patients were followed-up on two occasions over a period of 5 months following detoxification from alcohol. Detailed measures of alcohol consumption, alcohol-related problems and abstinence status were taken throughout the follow-up period. No significant differences were found between those with a diagnosis of depression and those with alcohol dependence alone, regardless of whether diagnosis of depression was made post-detoxification or pre-admission, on any drinking outcome measure including abstinence status, alcohol consumption, pattern of drinking, or alcohol-related problems. Neither a diagnosis of depression in the post-detoxification period nor in the pre-admission episode was related to drinking outcome at follow-up, which suggests that co-morbid depression does not confer a worse outcome in those with alcohol dependence.
authors.affiliation: Alcohol Problems Clinic, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Blackburn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged