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Psychopathological and sociodemographic characteristics of 1231 depressed patients with and without co-existing alcoholism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 April 2020

H Lôo
Affiliation:
Service hospitalo-universitaire de Santé Mentale et de Thérapeutique SM21, Centre Hospitalier Sainte-Anne, 1, rue Cabanis, 75674, Paris Cedex 14
W Rein
Affiliation:
CMME, 100, rue de la Santé
A Souche
Affiliation:
Département Universitaire Psychiatrie Adulte - Hôpital de Cery, 1008, Prilly/Lausanne, Switzerland
H Dufour
Affiliation:
Département Universitaire Psychiatrie Adulte - Hôpital de Cery, 1008, Prilly/Lausanne, Switzerland
JD Guelfi
Affiliation:
CMME, 100, rue de la Santé
R Malka
Affiliation:
Centre Gilbert Raby, 2, avenue du Maréchal Joffre, 78250 Meulan, Institut de Psychiatrie La Rochefoucauld, 63 rue de la Rochefoucauld, 75009, Paris, France
JP Olié
Affiliation:
Service hospitalo-universitaire de Santé Mentale et de Thérapeutique SM21, Centre Hospitalier Sainte-Anne, 1, rue Cabanis, 75674, Paris Cedex 14
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Summary

The relationship of depression and alcoholism has given rise to a large number of studies with alcoholic patients screened for depression but only little information is available on the comparison of depressed patients with and without co-existing alcoholism, indicating similarities in symptom patterns but lower intensity of depression in alcoholic depressives. One thousand two hundred and thirty-one subjects were evaluated for inclusion in an open multicentre trial for one year long treatment with tianeptine, a new antidepressant. Patients had to fulfill DSM III criteria for major depression single episode, recurrent (without melancholia or psychotic features) or dysthymic disorder. Upon inclusion, 23% of those depressed patients also had a DSM III diagnosis of alcohol abuse or dependence. Results confirm the overall lower intensity of depression in the alcoholic-depressed subgroup with a symptom pattern corresponding more to retarded depression in the pure depression subgroup. On the contrary, alcoholic depressives had a higher rate of precipitating life-events and more social difficulties than non-alcoholic depressives. No differences were found regarding duration of the actual illness episode, medical and psychiatric history.

Résumé

Résumé

Les relations entre dépression et alcoolisme ont suscité beaucoup d'études portant sur la recherche de symptômes dépressifs chez des alcooliques. Par contre, il existe peu d'informations sur les caractéristiques des patients déprimés selon qu'il coexite ou non un alcoolisme. Les résultats indiquent une similarité de la symptomatologie dépressive entre les deux groupes. Les déprimés alcooliques présentent en moyenne une dépression d'intensité moindre. Une étude multicentrique, en ouvert, sur un an, a permis d'inclure 1231 patients présentant: soit un épisode dépressif majeur isolé ou récurrent, sans mélancolie ni caractéristiques psychotiques; soit un trouble dysthymique selon les critères du DSM III. À l'inclusion, 23% des patients ont un alcoolisme surajouté. Les résultats confirment l'existence d'une symptomatologie dépressive d'intensité plus faible au sein du sous-groupe de déprimés alcooliques. Le profil sémiologique des déprimés sans alcoolisme correspond davantage à une dépression avec ralentissement. Plus de facteurs déclenchants et de facteurs environnementaux défavorables sont mis en évidence chez les déprimés alcooliques. La durée de l'épisode en cours, la fréquence des antécédents psychiatriques et somatiques sont comparables entre les deux groupes.

Type
Original article
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 1990

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