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Alcohol and Depression

Depression is a group of symptoms that includes, but not limited to, sadness, changes in weight or appetite, sleep disturbances, agitation, loss of energy, loss of interest in activities that once gave pleasure, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, concentration problems and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.¹

In day-to-day life, the usual (or normal) emotional responses such as sadness, mood swings or loss/grief occur and are expected. However, depression is persistent with significant interference with an individual's ability to function.² When five or more of the symptoms occur during a two-week period it's considered a major depressive disorder.^{1, 2} When at least two of the symptoms persist over a two-year period, it's called dysthymia or dysthymic disorder. Bipolar disorder is characterized by major depression linked with episodes of mania. (Mania: over-excitement manifested in mental and physical hyperactivity, disorganization of behavior, and elevation of mood.³)

Alcohol dependence is a disease that has many of the same signs and symptoms necessary for the diagnosis of a major depressive disorder.⁴ Oftentimes, it is thought that alcohol causes a 'good mood' while it's actually a depression-causing drug.⁴

Alcohol dependence does not cause depression, however the two disorders are commonly seen concomitance with each other. Thirty to fifty percent of alcoholics are also suffering from major depression.4 Studies show that almost twice as many women suffer from depression (12%) as men (7%) each year.¹ Evidence also suggests that in men, alcohol use preceded the depression ,whereas in women the depression precedes the alcohol use.⁵ A study of teens who have a depressive disorder are twice as likely to use drugs or alcohol for the first time than those who are not depressed.⁶

Initially, alcohol can produce a pleasant and relaxed state of mind thus a form of self-medication - the perceived 'good mood'.⁷ Alcohol temporarily blunts the effects of two of the stress hormones, serotonin and norepinephrine, ultimately leaving the person feeling worse because it depresses the brain and nervous system.⁵ As the alcohol wears off, the person will be more depressed than ever, thus causing the vicious cycle of drinking to self-medicate.

Major depression and alcohol abuse are the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorders in suicide attempts.⁸ When a person suffers from both of these conditions, s/he has a much higher risk of attempting or succeeding at suicide because the alcohol can exaggerate the depression, increase impulsiveness, impair judgment and thus lead to more painful suicide methods and methods involving moving vehicles or overdosing.⁸