"Must Read" Information About The Relationship Between Alcoholism and Depression
Alcoholism and metal health researchers have known for quite some time that alcoholism and depression tend to occur together and that both disorders may run in families.
In fact, previous research studies of twins and adopted siblings have implied that there are genes in common underlying alcoholism and depression and that both of these disorders take place in families. Indeed, a family history of either alcoholism or depression puts an individual at increased risk for developing either illness.
Important Facts About Alcoholism and Depression
The following list represents some key facts that researchers have uncovered regarding the relationship between alcoholism and depression:
Alcoholism and depression are frequently associated, leading to a high potential for alcohol-antidepressant interactions.
The use of alcohol and drugs can complicate the diagnosis and treatment of depression.
According to U.S. research, most people with depression do not seek treatment, although the great majority of individuals, even those whose depression is extremely severe, can be helped with professional treatment.
Frequently, the reasons for depression are not clear. That is, there may not be just one "cause," but a variety of contributing factors that accumulate over time and make people feel defeated, helpless, demoralized, hopeless, and depressed.
Alcohol triggers depressive symptoms, increasing both their frequency and severity.
Psychotherapy alone is not recommended as the only treatment for severe depression or for bipolar (manic-depressive) illness.
What is Depression?
Depression is a mental state typified by a despondent lack of activity and a pessimistic feeling of inadequacy. When a person is depressed, he or she usually feels hopeless, exhausted, helpless, and worthless.
It is important to point out the fact that while "normal" depression is associated to any downturn in mood that might be relatively short-term and even triggered by something relatively trivial, "clinical depression," conversely, is correlated with symptoms that last two weeks or more and are so severe that they interfere with daily functioning and living.
Alcoholism and Depression: Symptoms
U.S. mental heath researchers have discovered the fact that some of the dynamics that are involved in producing the symptoms of reduced appetite, poor sleep, low mood, and anxiety that are characteristic of depression are also affected by alcohol.
The following represents some of the major facts about the symptoms of alcoholism and depression:
Among U.S. alcoholics entering treatment, approximately two-thirds of them have symptoms that resemble anxiety disorders.
Approximately 5 to 10 per cent of U.S. individuals with depression also have symptoms of alcohol abuse or alcoholism.
Since symptoms of depression are likely to develop during the course of alcoholism, some patients with mood disorders may increase their drinking when undergoing a mood change, fulfilling criteria for secondary alcoholism.
The symptoms of depression in U.S. alcoholics are significantly reduced after three to four weeks of sobriety.
According to U.S. research, if a drinker has never experienced alcohol problems, he or she will tend to not have symptoms of depression.
Since symptoms of depression associated with alcohol are the most sever when a person first stops drinking, recovering alcoholics with a history of depression should be carefully monitored during the entire alcohol withdrawal process and especially during its early stages.
The strongest relationship between alcoholism and severe anxiety takes place in the context of alcohol withdrawal.
In the U.S., up to 40 per cent of individuals who drink excessively have symptoms that resemble depression.
When depressive symptoms are secondary to alcoholism, they are likely to disappear within a few days or weeks of abstinence, as the alcohol withdrawal symptoms decrease.
Depression and the Elderly
Some individuals have the mistaken belief that it is normal for the elderly to feel depressed. U.S. research, however, shows that people who experience alcohol problems both before and after age 60 have the highest rates of depression. In fact, seniors who suffer from depression and alcoholism are at an increased risk of suicide.
According to U.S. alcohol abuse statistics, since depression and alcohol abuse or alcoholism are related to suicide, and given the high rate of suicide in older people, health care professionals need to be sensitive to the presence of suicidal ideation in older patients.
In short, clinicians must not only raise their awareness about depression and alcoholism in older adults but they should also refrain from confusing these disorders with "normal aging."
Alcoholism and Depression: Suicide
Alcohol impairs judgment, a fact that goes a long way in explaining its relationship with suicide. Additionally, due to the fact that alcohol abuse and alcoholism can intensify depression and increase impulsiveness, a person suffering from major depression and from alcoholism has a much higher risk of attempting and succeeding at taking his or her own life.
Because of the risk of suicide, it is imperative that individuals suffering from major depression and alcoholism or alcohol abuse receive prompt medical attention.
Alcoholism and Depression: Treatment
Regrettably, many individuals, including health practitioners, tend to perceive alcoholism and depression as separate problems when in fact they are associated with one another. Consequently, the positive relation between alcohol abuse or alcoholism and depression argues strongly for a more comprehensive approach to treatment.
This means not only paying close attention to the "drinking problem" but also taking into consideration the treatment of depression - which can require anti-depressant medications or psychotherapy. It almost goes without saying that this type of extensive treatment approach will help ensure a more appropriate and effective outcome for the patient.
According to many researchers and mental health practitioners the clinical assessment of current and past alcohol abuse and alcohol-related disorders should be established as a routine part of all medical or psychiatric evaluations.
Moreover, all depressed patients should be frequently asked about their alcohol and drug use throughout the course of their treatment and advised to abstain from drug and alcohol abuse.
In sum, when alcoholism or alcohol abuse occurs with depression, both the substance abuse and the mood disorder require immediate and professional treatment.
Alcoholism and Depression: Conclusion
Alcoholism and depression have a high comorbidity. This means that alcoholism and depression occur in the same individuals at a rate higher than they would normally occur if both disorders were not interrelated. The relationship "link" can biological, social, psychological, genetic or most likely a combination of these and other factors.
The bottom line is this: when alcoholism or alcohol abuse occurs with depression, both the "drinking problem" and the mood disorder require prompt, quality treatment.
Message to Alcoholics
Don't just sit there and think things are going to get better. Addiction doesn't get better. It gets worse until somebody dies. You need to take appropriate action by getting professional treatment and you need to take action now!
Alcoholism and Depression Quick Facts
Did you know...
"Alcohol is typically found in the offender, victim or both, in about half of all U.S. homicides and serious assaults, as well as in a high percentage of sex-related crimes, robberies, and incidents of domestic violence, and alcohol-related problems are disproportionately found among both juvenile and adult criminal offenders.""Animal research indicates that adolescents in general are more sensitive than adults to the stimulating effects of alcohol and less sensitive to some of the aversive effects of acute alcohol intoxication, such as sedation, hangover, and ataxia (loss of muscular coordination)."
"According to a 1997 report by the Ninth Special Report to the U.S. Congress on Alcohol and Health from the Secretary of Health and Human Services, alcohol is a leading cause of death among youth, particularly teenagers. It contributes substantially to adolescent motor vehicle crashes, other traumatic injuries, suicide, date rape, and family and school problems."
"If you consume alcoholic beverages, it's important to know whether your drinking patterns are safe, risky or harmful. Answering these questions will take only a few minutes, and will generate personalized results based on your age, gender and drinking patterns."
"According to medical research, up to one-half of the 100 most prescribed drugs for older U.S. people react adversely with alcohol.""It is misinformation that abusive drinking is exhibited only by adults. Indeed, according to alcoholism research, there are approximately 3 million teens in the U.S. who are "problem drinkers." This is especially unfortunate because during the teenage years, when the body and emotions are maturing, excessive and abusive drinking can cause irreparable harm."
"Fortunately, research is helping to define the barriers that exist in accessing care and achieving recovery from alcohol abuse and alcoholism."
"Screening for problem drinking and alcoholism needs to become an integral part of the routine health screening questionnaire for adolescents and all adults, particularly women of child-bearing age, because of the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome."
"According to a 2007 Science Daily report, it is important to know why high school seniors drink so parents, teachers and high school counselors can pay special attention to the needs of the small but high-risk group of seniors who offer multiple reasons for drinking and who also have anger or frustration issues."
"Does drinking strong coffee or taking a cold shower have an effect on the person who is drunk? The answer is yes - the result being an alert, cold, and wet drunk. Time, and only time can sober a person up."
"A clearer understanding of the biological underpinnings of alcoholism is opening the way to more effective and efficient medications. Not only this, but scientists have identified a number of genes that confer a predisposition to alcohol addiction. They have also found that the brain goes through profound changes when a person starts drinking to excess."
"Research shows that low self-esteem and depression make one more vulnerable to excessive drinking and alcoholism."
"Knowing the warning signals of alcohol use in your teen can help lead to early intervention, and can make a huge difference in your child's recovery."
"According to a 1995 U.S. national survey of fourth through sixth graders who read the Weekly Reader, 30 percent of the students surveyed reported that they received 'a lot' of pressure from their classmates to drink beer."
"The alcohol abuse research literature reveals that most of America's youth perceive their parents as the main role models concerning their drinking behavior."
"A Dutch study has demonstrated that young people who are very friendly are more sensitive to the influence of their peers on how much they drink themselves as compared with adolescents who are not as friendly."
"Research reveals that one third of all American alcoholic deaths are from suicides or accidents such as drownings, head injuries from falling, or car crashes."
"According to a 1999 Federal Trade Commission report, alcohol placement has also occurred in PG and PG 13 movies where the primary audience included a sizable number of teens and children."
"According to U.S. substance abuse researchers, addicts have a tendency to engage in various activities or to use particular substances as substitutes for more appropriate and healthy coping mechanisms when dealing with stress, anxiety, and with their everyday lives."
"If a person continues to drink excessively after numerous or ongoing treatments, their prognosis is very poor. Persistent heavy drinkers will often succumb to the effects of alcohol."
"According to SAMHSA's 2002 and 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 4% of adults age 21 or older reported that they started drinking before age 12, 14% started between ages 12-14, almost 74% had started drinking alcohol before the current legal drinking age of 21, 33% started between ages 15-17; and 22% started drinking between ages 18-20."
"The incidence of intoxication (BAC of 0.08 or greater) for drivers in fatal crashes in 2003 was highest for motorcycle operators (29% ) and lowest for drivers of large trucks (1%). The incidence of intoxication for drivers of light trucks and passenger car drivers was the same (22%)."
"According to a report published by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, eighty-seven percent of adults who drink had their first drink before the age 21."
"In the United States during 2004, 16,694 deaths occurred as a result of alcohol-related motor-vehicle accidents. This amount was roughly 39% of all traffic fatalities. This amounts to one alcohol-related death every 31 minutes."
"Studies have shown that inpatient detoxification programs are more effective and longer lasting than outpatient detox programs. The important issue here, however, is the following: the more severe the alcohol-related withdrawal symptoms, the more likely that inpatient detox programs should be used."
"There is no absolute number of drinks per day that indicates a person has alcoholism, although alcoholics do eventually develop a tolerance for alcohol."
"Research shows that a strong social support system and early medical or psychiatric intervention may also help prevent the escalating consumption of alcohol so characteristic of alcoholism."
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Listen To A Free "Talking eBook" About Alcohol
If you would like to listen to a free "talking eBook" about alcohol entitled The Truth About Alcohol, please click on this link. Current News and Info about Alcoholism and Depression from Yahoo News
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Reader Feedback
Thank you for visiting my "Alcoholism and Depression lens. Feel free to post a quick hello and share some of your thoughts and stories about these unfortunate disorders.
Thanks,
denman4
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qlcoach
This is a five star lens. Congrats. I have been counseling people for the years at the VA about addictions. Please feel free to interact with my site too: Posted July 02, 2008 |
| Serenity_Prayer_Gifts
Good Info! Thank you kindly! :-) Posted June 27, 2008 |
| AnnieBankss
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marlene3
Nice lens! Great layout of the page and the contents. Keep up the good work, stay encourage and God Bless. Thanks, Marlene Posted August 23, 2007 |
Alcoholism and Depression Links
- Alcoholism and Depression
- Researchers have known for quite some time that alcoholism and depression tend to occur together and that both disorders take place in families.
- Depression and Alcoholism
- Depression and alcoholism occur in the same people at a rate higher than they would occur if both disorders were not linked. The "link" can be social, genetic, psychological, biological, or most likely a combination of these and other factors.
- Alcoholism Depression
- Mental health and alcoholism researchers have discovered that alcoholism and depression tend to occur together and that both disorders often occur in families.
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