Alcohol compromises judgement and makes people impulsive and likely to take risks. Alcohol also causes a loss of inhibition and increases aggressive behaviour and violent acts. Because increased alcohol consumption often occurs together with a depressed mood, this is a particular concern. Depression can lead to thoughts of suicide. The lack of self-control, compromised judgement and impulsivity from the alcohol can increase the chances of a person attempting suicide. Generally, a much higher incidence of suicide, both completed and attempted, is associated with alcohol. The common problems of depression and alcohol are frequently complicated by social problems. Alcohol can often lead to problems at work in the form of absenteeism, sickness and under performance. This article briefly describes prevalence, assessment, clinical features, and treatment of comorbid major depression and alcohol dependence. Comorbid is characterized by symptoms of both depression and anxiety. Patients who have comorbid depression and anxiety have higher severity of illness, higher chronicity and significantly greater impairment in work functioning, psychosocial functioning and quality of life than patients only suffering from single disease like depression or anxiety. comorbidity is associated with an increased rate of psychiatric hospitalization and suicide attempts. Alcohol dependence prolongs the course of depression, and persistent depression during abstinence from alcohol is a risk factor for relapse to heavy drinking. Thus, logic dictates that both disorders be identified and managed concurrently and aggressively. Integrated psychosocial outpatient treatment programs and the ability to treat alcohol and depression simultaneously have reinforced the need to revisit the traditional management of comorbid major depression and alcohol dependence more formally.
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