Alcohol misuse and report of recent depressive symptoms among ED patients.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the magnitude of association between alcohol misuse and recent depressive symptoms.


METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional study of 412 randomly selected patients at least 18 years old and seeking emergency department (ED) care.


RESULTS
Of the patients, 51.0% reported depressive symptoms. At-risk drinking was reported by 26.0%, and 28.2% scored positive on the Rapid Alcohol Problems Screen 4. Alcohol abuse and binge drinking were reported by 25.1% and 28%, respectively, of the patients. According to our results, at-risk drinking (odds ratio [OR] = 2.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.47-4.20, P < or = .001), problem drinking (OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.27-3.51, P < or = .004), drinking abuse (OR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.51-4.40, P < .001), and binge drinking (OR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.13-3.15, P < .001) were all related to the manifestation of depressive symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study yield information that could be used by ED health care practitioners and health educators to educate ED patients at risk for alcohol misuse and depression.
Department of Psychiatry, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. shbazarg@cdrewu.edu
Shahrzad
S
Bazargan-Hejazi
Mohsen
M
Bazargan
Tommie
T
Gaines
Michael
M
Jemanez
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors
D000431:Ethanol