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- Title
Depressive symptoms and alcohol consumption among nonalcoholic depression patients treated with desipramine.
- Authors
Goldstein, Benjamin I.; Shaffer, Ayal; Levitt, Anthony; Zaretsky, Ari; Joffe, Russel T.; Wesson, Virginia; Bagby, R. Michael; Schaffer, Ayal; Joffe, Russell T
- Abstract
<bold>Objective: </bold>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.<bold>Method: </bold>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.<bold>Results: </bold>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).<bold>Conclusions: </bold>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.
- Subjects
MENTAL depression; ALCOHOLISM; ALCOHOL drinking; ANTIDEPRESSANTS; DIAGNOSIS of mental depression; DRINKING behavior; DESIPRAMINE; HAMILTON Depression Inventory; PSYCHOLOGICAL tests; THERAPEUTICS
- Publication
Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 2004, Vol 49, Issue 12, p859
- ISSN
0706-7437
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1177/070674370404901210