Depression and Anxiety Outcomes Are Poor in Patients with Severe Alcoholism

The adverse effects of alcoholism on outcomes in patients with mood and anxiety disorders have been found in multiple small studies, but only inconsistently. The current researchers analyzed data on 1369 patients with diagnoses of unipolar depression, dysthymia, social phobia, panic, or generalized anxiety who participated in the large, prospective Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety. Participants had been examined with structured interviews at baseline and 2 years later.

Data included the type and severity of remitted or current alcohol use disorder, determined at baseline. The analyses controlled for exposure to antidepressants, benzodiazepines, or psychotherapy; illness severity; and psychosocial factors. Having remitted or curren…