Can light or moderate drinking benefit mental health?
Observational studies in several cultures show light and moderate drinking to be associated with better emotional and social adjustment than abstinence. However, adjustments for pre-existing personality characteristics and socialisation need to be made, and abstainers who are ex-drinkers must be excluded. There is still insufficient evidence to suggest that emotional health can be improved by light or moderate drinking. For cognition, consumption of up to 65 g/day is not associated with chronic inefficiencies. With regard to cognitive decline in older people, emerging evidence suggests the possibility that such decline may be reduced by light drinking. The elderly in institutions probably benefit from a 'social hour' when alcoholic beverage is available. Doctors considering giving advice to drink to improve health should be very cautious and note a number of caveats.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, UK. jchick@compuserve.com
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012917:Social Adjustment