Is current alcohol consumption associated with increased lifetime prevalence of major depression and suicidality? Results from a pilot community survey.
OBJECTIVE
Alcohol use disorders are associated with increased illness severity and suicidality in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, little is known about how alcohol use across the continuum relates to MDD.


METHODS
Subjects were 496 adults (201 men, 295 women) who completed a community-based telephone survey that incorporated a validated structured diagnostic interview for depression and a validated alcohol questionnaire. Subjects were divided into 3 alcohol consumption groups based on Canadian low-risk drinking guidelines: minimal (MIN), moderate (MOD), and heavy (HVY) alcohol consumption.


RESULTS
Among subjects with MDD, drinking group was not associated with measures of disability, health service use, or life satisfaction. Among all women, the prevalence of depression increased significantly across drinking groups (MIN, 24.6%; MOD, 30.3%; HVY, 44.0% [linear-by-linear association chi(2) = 4.1, df = 1, P < .05]), as did the prevalence of suicidality among women with MDD (MIN, 16.3%; MOD, 29.6%; HVY, 45.5% [chi(2) = 4.5, df = 1, P < .05]).


CONCLUSIONS
A range of alcohol consumption, not just heavy drinking, may be associated with major depression and suicidality.
Goldstein
Benjamin I
BI
Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook and Women's Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M4N 3M5. benjamin.goldstein@utoronto.ca
Levitt
Anthony J
AJ
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires