Alcohol Use Among Depressed Patients: The Need for Assessment and Intervention

Overview

Journal Prof Psychol Res Pr

Publisher American Psychological Association

Specialty Psychology

Date 2011 Sep 28

PMID 20502623

Citations 11

Authors

Susan E Ramsey

Patricia A Engler

Michael D Stein

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

For many depressed patients, drinking may interfere with the successful treatment of their depression. Even among patients whose alcohol use does not rise to the level of an alcohol-use disorder, drinking can have a deleterious effect on depression and depressive symptoms and may dampen the impact of treatment for depression. However, subclinical drinking may not be addressed during the course of psychological or psychiatric treatment for depression. The authors advocate for the routine assessment of alcohol use, beyond questioning to diagnose alcohol abuse or dependence, in psychological and psychiatric settings. There is reason to believe that once identified, heavy alcohol use among depressed patients could be addressed effectively through the use of brief motivationally focused interventions.

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