title: Alcohol dependence and mood disorders.
abstract: This article explores the complex relationships between alcohol dependence and mood disorders. Although many alcoholics present with substance-induced depressions, once appropriate methodological controls are used, there does not appear to be a significant relationship between independent unipolar depression and alcohol dependence. However, the data support a small, but significant, relationship between bipolar manic-depressive disease and alcoholism. The literature does not support the relevance of self-medication as a course of alcoholism, unless one includes the use of alcohol to alleviate alcohol-induced psychological and neurochemical perturbations. The clinical importance of distinguishing between substance-induced and independent mood disorders is reviewed.
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Diego, USA.
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Raimo
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Schuckit
mesh_terms: D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000139:chemically induced; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012651:Self Medication
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol