Abstract
Using prospectively gathered data, we assessed whether depression is associated a risk for late-onset alcohol dependence, and whether that relationship differed by gender. The baseline interview was completed in 1981 (mean age = 41.7 years, standard deviation (S.D.)= 17.0, range 18-86) on a probability sample of Baltimore residents as part of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program. Between 1993 and 1996, the original cohort was traced (73% of the survivors were re-interviewed, n = 1920). Baseline depression items were subjected to gender-specific latent class analyses prior to exploring associations between class membership and two classifications of alcohol dependence: (1) lifetime prevalence, and (2) new onset assessed at follow-up. A depression syndrome class was identified (24% of the females and 20% of the males). The odds of lifetime alcohol dependence among those in the depressive syndrome class was significantly elevated for both sexes, relative to the non-depressed class. However, no appreciable association was found for depressive syndrome with the development of alcohol dependence. In this sample of middle-aged adults, the evidence supports an association for the presence of a depressive syndrome with lifetime alcohol dependence, but not for the new onset of alcohol dependence. Other predictors of alcohol dependence identified in the analyses are discussed.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 71-81 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Drug and alcohol dependence |
Volume | 79 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 1 2005 |
Keywords
- Alcohol
- Dependence
- Depression
- Latent class
- Prospective
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Toxicology
- Pharmacology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Pharmacology (medical)