Socio-economic inequalities in the association between alcohol-use disorder and depressive disorder among Thai adults: a population-based study

Abstract

Background: Previous evidence indicates significant associations between depressive disorders and alcohol use disorder (AUD) and their strong links with social conditions. This study aims to investigate the association between major depressive episode (MDE) and AUD across various socio-economic groups.Methods: We analysed data from the 2014 Thai National Health Examination Survey containing a random sample of 13,177 adults aged >20 years from the general population. The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test was used to classify respondents into non-problem drinking (score 0-7), hazardous drinking (score 8-15), and harmful-dependent drinking (score 16-40). MDE was identified using questions based on the DSM-IV. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using multinomial logistic regression to determine the strength of associations between MDE as a predictor and AUD as an outcome variable across different socio-economic levels.Results: The prevalence of MDE, hazardous, and harmful-dependent drinking was 2.5%, 10.3%, and 1.9%, respectively. The association between MDE and AUD was modified by wealth index, education level and area of residence. AORs for the association between MDE and harmful-dependent drinking were high among those in the highest (AOR=8.68, 95% CI: 5.34, 14.11) and lowest (AOR=7.14, 95% CI: 3.71, 13.73) levels of wealth index but not significant among those in the middle level (AOR=1.78, 95% CI: 0.74, 4.25). Education had the strongest effect on the relationship between MDE and harmful-dependent drinking (AOR=16.0, 95% CI: 10.30, 24.90 among those completing secondary school or higher and AOR=1.44, 95% CI: 0.63, 3.33 among those completing primary school only). The association between MDE and harmful-dependent drinking was higher among people who lived in urban areas (AOR=8.50, 95% CI: 5.50, 13.13) compared to those living in rural areas (AOR=4.73, 95% CI: 3.31, 6.77).Conclusion: Socio-economic factors modify the association between alcohol use disorder and major depressive disorder among Thai people.

The Epidemiology of Alcohol use Disorder in the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Kenyan Perspective

“…A study in morocco on participants between 15 and 18 years found that 94% were hazardous alcohol users 18 . Majority of the participants in our study were married with an annual income of U$6000, similar to other findings in Thailand and Nepal where most of the responded with alcohol problem were of the married group 15,19,20 . Another study in USA found that 77% of the participants were married with an annual income of more than U$150,000 21 .…”

“…These results were contrary to the findings in Thailand where it was found that high education level influenced the consumption of alcohol, there were more harmful alcohol users with secondary and university education than those of the primary school levels 23 . A study showed that college persons had a 160 times more likely to consume alcohol, thus education level had influence on alcohol consumption 24 .…”

Suicidal attempts and self‐poisoning: 1‐year retrospective cohort study from the quaternary hospital in Thai metropolitan area

“…Because cultural contexts and socioeconomic status affect the prevalence of mental disorders among the Thai population, 11 we believe suicide characters in the urbanized region are different from their rural counterparts. Serious mental disorders are typically more common in urban environments 12 .…”

“…Because self-poisoning is the leading cause of poison exposure in Thailand, 8 identifying the unique characteristics of patients is necessary to develop a tailor-made multidimensional approach and suicidal prevention program in specific areas. 9,10 Because cultural contexts and socioeconomic status affect the prevalence of mental disorders among the Thai population, 11 we believe suicide characters in the urbanized region are different from their rural counterparts. Serious mental disorders are typically more common in urban environments.…”

Parental drinking, mental health and educational level, and offspring’s subsequent prescription drugs treatment for sleep problems. A Longitudinal HUNT Survey and Registry Study

“…Parental drinking is associated with shorter sleep duration, worse sleep e ciency, and more long wake episodes in offspring 19,20 . Poor parental mental health and low socioeconomic status (SES) are also both associated with offspring sleep problems [21][22][23][24][25][26][27] , and these three risk factors -mental health, low SES and problem drinking -often co-occur 28,29 . To date, most studies have focused on single parental risk factors.…”