Depressive symptoms and alcohol consumption among nonalcoholic depression patients treated with desipramine.
OBJECTIVE
There are few data addressing the effect of alcohol consumption on response to antidepressants among nonalcoholics with depression. Similarly, the effect of antidepressant treatment on alcohol consumption in this group is not yet understood. This study focuses on changes in depressive symptoms and alcohol consumption in response to treatment with desipramine.


METHODS
Twenty-seven nonalcoholic outpatients with major depression (as determined by the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Lifetime Version) completed measures of depression (that is, the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory) and alcohol consumption at intake and after 5 weeks of open treatment with desipramine. Subjects were characterized as minimal or mild-to-moderate drinkers.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference between the groups with respect to effectiveness of antidepressant treatment. Analysis for repeated measures demonstrated that alcohol consumption with desipramine was significantly lower after treatment than at intake (F = 4.8, df 23:2, P < 0.01). Further, carbohydrate consumption was also significantly lower after treatment than at intake (F = 4.4, df 23:2, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Desipramine treatment appeared to result in decreases in alcohol consumption in nonalcoholic patients with depression. Further research is needed to elucidate the effect of alcohol consumption on the course and outcome of major depressive illness among nonalcoholics as well as the effect of antidepressant medication on alcohol consumption in this population.
Goldstein
Benjamin I
BI
Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario.
Schaffer
Ayal
A
Levitt
Anthony
A
Zaretsky
Ari
A
Joffe
Russell T
RT
Wesson
Virginia
V
Bagby
R Michael
RM
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003891:Desipramine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D003891:Desipramine