Alcohol and Depression Comorbidity Comorbidity Alcohol & Depression

The comorbidity or dual diagnosis of mood disorders -- particularly depression -- and alcohol abuse/dependence has increased in awareness during recent years due to the frequency of comorbidity. Depression and alcohol use is a topic that sparks much discussion as depressive symptoms can both precede and/or follow the onset of alcohol dependence (Sokya, Hollweg & Naber, 1996). This often leads to a "chicken or the egg" (Flensborg-Madsen, 2011) type question concerning alcohol abuse/dependence and depression: Which came first -- the abuse/dependence or the depression? Whichever came first, there is evidence to show that there is a causal relationship between the two different disorders (2011).

Alcohol abuse is defined as an alcohol use disorder that is characterized by sustained drinking in spite of any negative consequences as well as the inability to take responsibility for one's own actions -- especially in relation to those negative consequences. Alcohol dependence, on the other hand, is characterized by one's desire or craving for alcohol, a possible physical dependence...

The DSM-IV-TR defines a depressive episode as having five (or more) of the following symptoms present during the same 2-week period. One of the symptoms must be depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure. 1) depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day; 2) markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all or most activities most of the day; 3) significant weight loss when not trying to lose weight; 3) insomnia or hypersomnia almost every day; 5) psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day; 6) fatigue or low energy nearly every day; 7) feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt nearly every day; 8) diminished ability to think or concentrate nearly every day; and 9) recurrent thoughts of death (suicidal ideations with or without a specific play) (Mental Health Today, 2012). Major depressive disorder can be diagnosed after a single major depressive episode.
Based on a meta-analysis done by Boden & Fergusson (2011), it was concluded that the presence of one disorder…