However, when combined with therapy and medications, the impact can be quite significant in a short period of time. CBT is one of the most well-known and researched therapies and has an excellent track record for treating depressive symptoms. CBT operates on the concept that being able to recognize and better understand the connection to one’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors can assist in reducing negative thoughts and promoting positive behavior change. People who are depressed and drink too much have more frequent and severe episodes of depression, and are more likely to think about suicide. Nearly one-third of people with major depression also have an alcohol problem. Research shows that depressed kids are more likely to have problems with alcohol a few years down the road.

The objective of the study was to determine comorbid depression among 188 Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) [48] positive participants. The data is part of that collected in a six-month prospective study done to determine the alcohol and depression cost-effectiveness of community-based and institution-based detoxification and rehabilitation of alcohol-dependent persons. The study was conducted at the Kangemi informal settlement located in the west of Nairobi city in Kenya in 2008.

Treatment Options For Depression And Alcohol Addiction

Just as treating an alcohol use disorder without treating depression does not typically result in successful outcomes. Since these conditions are often concurrent, there are a variety of different treatment options that include psychotherapy, medication management, holistic activities, and more advanced approaches that are utilized for individuals struggling with severe symptoms. In the DSM-5, AUD requires at least two symptoms, whereas DSM-IV alcohol abuse required only one symptom. Also, from DSM-IV to DSM-5, modifications were made to the symptoms that were included as diagnostic criteria. For example, the criterion of legal problems related to alcohol was removed, and the criterion of alcohol craving was added.

This could have a carryover effect on depression since loneliness and lack of social support are linked to depression. Drinking alcohol can become a coping mechanism to deal with feelings of hopelessness, numbness, guilt, and worthlessness. That’s why your doctor or psychologist will work with you to create a treatment approach that addresses both issues. During therapy, you can learn coping mechanisms that can help you return to life without drinking. Alcohol use disorder and depression are two conditions that often occur together. What’s more, one can make the other worse in a cycle that’s pervasive and problematic if not addressed and treated.

Physical health and mental health

Persons that use alcohol to relieve depressive symptoms may require treatment for depression to achieve full remission after alcohol use disorder treatment [18]. As for depression co-existing with alcohol dependence, Jordans et al. [17] evaluated the use of psychotherapy combined with anti-depressants for patients with depression and alcohol dependence. They showed that psychotherapy addition would improve treatment success rates, especially when delivered by community-based counselors, after one year of follow-up. Furthermore, these patients usually suffer from treatment-resistant depression.

During withdrawal from heavy drinking, people may develop delirium tremens, a complication of withdrawal marked by psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations (see Core article on AUD). For healthcare professionals who are not mental health or addiction specialists, the following descriptions aim to increase awareness of signs of co-occurring psychiatric disorders that may require attention and, often, referral to a specialist. Also, the role of psychotherapy in these patients was examined by Brown et al., who evaluated the use of CBT-D in patients with severe depression co-existing with alcohol dependence. It showed that CBT-D had shown significant improvement in depressive symptoms at the beginning of treatment; however, the improvement was non-significantly different after following up [21]. Both depression and alcohol use disorder are treatable medical conditions.

Treatment options

Feelings of sadness, lack of energy or trouble sleeping can be common occurrences that individuals experience in their daily lives. Losing a job, the death of a loved one or the end of a relationship can naturally cause feelings of grief. And often, people may use the word “depressed” as a way to verbalize how they are feeling. For example, having a family member with an alcohol use disorder is a risk factor for both depression and alcohol use disorder. Emerging research has found that there is a genetic link between AUD and depression.