Tests of Causal Links Between Alcohol Abuse or Dependence and Major Depression

Abstract

The findings suggest that the associations between AAD and MD were best explained by a causal model in which problems with alcohol led to increased risk of MD as opposed to a self-medication model in which MD led to increased risk of AAD.

The relationship between different dimensions of alcohol use and the burden of disease—an update

“…Two reviews on this topic came to the same conclusion: that all three mechanisms are possible and probably existing, but the first mechanism—that alcohol use (especially heavy use and alcohol use disorders) causes depression—is stronger and more prevalent than the other pathways (5, 219; see also 221, 222). …”

Self-medication with alcohol or drugs for mood and anxiety disorders: A narrative review of the epidemiological literature

“…An additional body of literature has assessed the temporal onset of MD and SUD without directly assessing SM, and found evidence for both causal pathways (Crum et al., 2013; Feingold et al., 2015; Fergusson et al., 2009; Kessler et al., 1997; Kuo et al., 2006; Lazareck et al., 2012; Liang et al., 2011; Martins et al., 2012; Wolitzky‐Taylor et al., 2012). Data from Australia showed that those with MD were at a higher risk of incident harmful or dependent drug use (Liang et al., 2011).…”

“…A study including three different geographic communities from the USA and Puerto Rico showed that the age of onset for alcohol abuse/dependence disorders and depressive disorders was evenly distributed, with about 50% of depressive disorders occurring before and 50% occurring after the onset of alcohol abuse/dependence (Swendsen et al., 1998). Using data from young adults of age 17–25 years in New Zealand, one study concluded that the strongest pathway existed for baseline alcohol abuse and dependence followed by incident major depression (Fergusson et al., 2009). Finally, using data from a large population‐based registry in Virginia, Kuo et al., 2006, found significant evidence for the pathway of baseline major depression, followed by the onset of alcohol dependence, and no significant evidence for the reverse pathway (Kuo et al., 2006).…”

“…Previous work using this method has shown support for the SMH (Gorka, Hedeker, Piasecki, & Mermelstein, 2017; Possemato et al., 2015). Epidemiological studies using general population samples can overcome some of the limitations of treatment‐seeking samples, such as treatment‐seeking bias, by being representative of the general population (Alegria et al., 2010; Crum, La Flair et al., 2013; Crum, Mojtabai et.al., 2013; Farmer et al., 2017; Feingold, Weiser, Rehm, & Lev‐ran, 2015, 2016; Fergusson, Boden, & Horwood, 2009; Kessler et al., 1997; Kuo, Gardner, Kendler, & Prescott, 2006; Lazareck et al., 2012; Liang, Chikritzhs, & Lenton, 2011; Martins et al., 2012; Martins, Keyes, Storr, Zhu, & Chilcoat, 2009; Menary, Kushner, Maurer, & Thuras, 2011; Robinson, Sareen, Cox, & Bolton, 2011; Sareen et al., 2001; Swendsen et al., 1998; Wolitzky‐Taylor, Bobova, Zinbarg, Mineka, & Craske, 2012). Epidemiological samples are further strengthened by using age of onset or longitudinal designs to assess the temporal onset of MD/AD and SUD.…”

Psychological Distress and Problem Drinking

“…V. Grant, Stewart, & Mohr, 2009;Kuo, Gardner, Kendler, & Prescott, 2006). Such reverse causality has been once previously examined through a structural equation model using New Zealand data (Fergusson, Boden, & Horwood, 2009), where alcohol abuse increased the risk of depression. However, the small sample size and the lack of exclusion restrictions implied strong assumptions for identification suggesting caution in drawing inferences.…”