Which came first? The chicken or the egg? Two things that are inextricably linked, yet which one caused the other one to occur? Can it be both?
These same questions ring true when it comes to the relationship between alcohol abuse or drug addiction and depression. In many cases, a person suffering from depression will also have an alcohol and drug abuse problem and vice versa. While studies are finding a strong link between serious alcohol use and depression, the question still remains, does regular alcohol consumption lead to depression or are people who are depressed more likely to drink excessively? Research is split on the issue. On the other hand, it is also thought possible that depression and alcohol abuse share common genetic and environmental risk factors that trigger both conditions.
According to a study conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, nearly a third of people suffering from a case of major depression also suffer from an alcohol problem. On the flip side of things, up to 40 percent of people who drink heavily have symptoms that resemble a depressive illness. Research has shown that children who are depressed are more likely to develop alcohol problems once they reach adolescence; and that teens that have had an episode of major depression are twice as likely as those who aren’t depressed to start drinking alcohol. On the other side of things, a number of studies have also shown that alcohol abuse increases the risk for depression; attributing the connection to be because of the sedative effects of alcohol on the brain, and that heavy alcohol consumption can lead to periods of depression. Alcohol abuse can also have serious repercussions on a person’s life, leading to financial and legal troubles, as well as marital and family stress. If you’re struggling with money or grappling with a failed relationship you’re more likely to feel depressed.
Sound a little confusing? I thought so too. However, there is one fact that it seems as if everyone can agree with. The abuse of alcohol and depression can be a deadly mix. For instance, depression’s long history of leading to the thoughts of suicide combined with the lack of self-control, compromised judgment and impulsivity from alcohol greatly increases the chances of a person attempting, and succeeding, in committing suicide. In addition, some antidepressants used to treat depression, are sedatives and if they are combined with alcohol, a person can be seriously sedated and even stop breathing. Many antidepressants are broken down in the liver and since alcohol can damage the liver, the levels of these antidepressants in the body will be higher in people who are also drinking heavily. This can lead to an increase in side effects from the antidepressants. Regardless of which came first, each feeds off the other making the symptoms and consequences of the other worse.
On a lighter note, a new study has suggested a type of problem-solving therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy, which may help treat people struggling with depression within residential treatment programs for drug and alcohol abuse. It has been reported that many people who are suffering from both alcohol and depression don’t always receive treatment for both issues, as few people entering substance abuse treatment have access to effective depression treatment. 299 people suffering from depression while also in treatment for substance abuse were included in the study; and every four months the facilities alternated between providing the usual care for substance abuse, and usual care plus cognitive behavioral therapy. The cognitive behavioral therapy allowed the patients to learn how to identify and change destructive or disturbing thought patterns that have a negative influence on behavior. The results found that after three months, those receiving cognitive behavioral therapy and substance abuse treatment reported significantly fewer depressive symptoms and improved mental health functioning when compared with those only receiving substance abuse treatment. In addition, after six months the same group of patients reported fewer drinking days and fewer days of problem substance use.