The Alcohol-Depression Connection: Symptoms, Treatment & More

It is likely, however, that within the spectrum of comorbid AUD and BD, there lies a variety of orders and associations, and that no one hypothesis explains the full spectrum of presentations. Consistent with this is the fact that when comorbid groups are studied, some patients present with BD first, some with AUD first, and some patients present with both simultaneously (Strakowski et al., 2005a). Those with AUD first tend to be older and tend to recover more quickly, whereas those with BD first tend to spend more time with affective disorder, and have more symptoms of AUD (Strakowski et al., 2005a). There are some gender differences also in that more men than women with BD tend to be alcoholic (Frye et al., 2003).

Contrary to the self-medication hypothesis, there was no evidence that having increased mood symptoms predicted lasting changes in alcohol use over the following six months.” Whether they decide to drink or not, keeping alcohol consumption levels consistent and including discussions of drinking habits in mental health appointments could be key. One study by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism found that people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) were 2.3 times more likely to have major depressive disorder than people who did not have AUD. There is a strong link between alcohol use and depression, a mental health condition that includes feelings of hopelessness, emptiness, fatigue, loss of interest, and more. But does regular drinking lead to depression, or are people with depression more likely to drink too much alcohol?

Order of Onset

The person with the conditions, their doctors, and possibly their friends or family members can be part of a larger treatment strategy. Often, social support from others is an essential part of managing and recovering from an SUD. The recommended treatment approach for SUD depends on the type of substance, length of dependency, and personal health factors, among others. Substances can also worsen a manic or depressive episode by exaggerating symptoms. However, substance misuse to self-medicate isn’t a long-term solution to managing bipolar disorder or healing from trauma. If you don’t have access to therapy, medication, or the ability to make necessary lifestyle changes, substances may seem like your only way to find immediate relief from symptoms or other emotional pain.

There were no additional incentives offered for participation in this specific secondary data analysis. The IRB approval of PLS-BD applies to the present study, and all participants agreed to the use of their data in future secondary data analysis. We followed the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) reporting guideline. Symptoms of bipolar disorder can be hard to identify in children and teens. It’s often hard to tell whether these symptoms are the usual ups and downs or due to stress or trauma, or if they’re signs of a mental health problem other than bipolar disorder. The depression, anxiety, or racing thoughts accompanying bipolar disorder can be exhausting, scary, and stressful.

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Randomized controlled studies in BD traditionally exclude patient with concurrent SUD. Thus, the evidence for choosing a mood stabilizer in BD with comorbid AUD is rather weak; strictly speaking, high levels evidence consists of altogether three placebo-controlled studies in this patient group (104–106). To make any suggestion maverick house (not even recommendations) about best available treatments we therefore rely on additional low-level evidence from open or retrospective studies and expert opinion. Because of this, people with both conditions may not get the full treatment they need at first. Even when researchers study bipolar disorder or AUD, they tend to look at just one condition at a time.

Treatment of Comorbid Bipolar Disorder and Alcoholism

Alcohol is also a CNS depressant, so the experience of depression is also worsened. Proposed treatment and support algorithm for patients with comorbid AUD and BD. Carbamazepine has been traditionally used in acute alcohol withdrawal to reduce the risk of seizures and ameliorate physical symptoms. However, there are no reliable data whether it is of any usefulness in the long-term treatment of BD + AUD.

Familial Risk of Bipolar Disorder and Alcoholism

1. Patients are told that the same kinds of thoughts and behaviors that will facilitate their recovery from one disorder will also aid in the recovery process from their other disorder.
2. A Brazilian study reports of at least one suicide attempt in 68% of BD patients with AUD compared to 35% in BD without AUD, with virtually no difference between BD patients with DSM-IV alcohol abuse and dependence (23).
3. However, these findings were not replicated in a slightly larger randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of acamprosate add-on pharmacotherapy in participants with BD and alcohol dependence conducted by the same group (Tolliver et al., 2012).
4. In most cases, healthcare professionals use medicines and talk therapy, also known as psychotherapy, to treat bipolar disorder.
5. They concluded that this finding is in accordance with results of clinical studies that suggest alcoholism is often a complication of bipolar disorder rather than a risk factor for it.
6. They share some common characteristics in relation to genetic background, neuroimaging findings, and some biochemical findings.

In a survey of 500 bipolar patients, 48 percent consulted 5 or more health care professionals before finally receiving a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, and 35 percent spent an average of 10 years between the onset of illness and diagnosis and treatment (Lish et al. 1994). Bipolar disorder affects approximately 1 to 2 percent of the population and often starts in early adulthood. Bipolar disorder and alcoholism co-occur at higher than expected rates. That is, they co-occur more often than would be expected by chance and they co-occur more often than do alcoholism and unipolar depression.

This article covers everything you need to know about the connection between alcohol and depression.