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Alcohol consumption as a risk factor for non-recovery from common mental disorder: results from the longitudinal follow-up of the National Psychiatric Morbidity Survey

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 November 2007

J. C. Haynes ,
M. Farrell ,
N. Singleton ,
H. Meltzer ,
R. Araya ,
G. Lewis  and
N. J. Wiles
J. C. Haynes*
Affiliation:
Avon and Wiltshire Partnership NHS Mental Healthcare Trust, Bristol, UK
M. Farrell
Affiliation:
National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London, UK
N. Singleton
Affiliation:
Drugs and Alcohol Research Programme, Research Development & Statistics Directorate, Home Office, London, UK
H. Meltzer
Affiliation:
Office for National Statistics, London, UK
R. Araya
Affiliation:
Academic Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Community Based Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
G. Lewis
Affiliation:
Academic Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Community Based Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
N. J. Wiles
Affiliation:
Academic Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Community Based Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr J. C. Haynes, MRCPsych, Academic Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Community Based Medicine, University of Bristol, Cotham House, Cotham Hill, Bristol BS6 6JL, UK. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

Alcohol is commonly considered to be associated with persistence of common mental disorder (CMD; anxiety/depression). However no community-based longitudinal studies have investigated the direction of causality.

Method

We examined the association between alcohol consumption and recovery from CMD using data on 706 community-based subjects with CMD who were followed for 18 months. Alcohol consumption at baseline was defined as hazardous drinking [Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) ⩾8], binge drinking (defined as six or more units of alcohol on one occasion, approximately two to three pints of commercially sold beer) and dependence.

Results

When compared with a non-binge-drinking group, non-recovery at follow-up was associated with binge drinking on at least a monthly basis at baseline, although the confidence interval (CI) included unity [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.47, 95% CI 0.89–2.45]. There was also weak evidence that alcohol dependence was associated with non-recovery (adjusted OR 1.37, 95% CI 0.67–2.81). There was little evidence to support hazardous drinking as a risk factor for non-recovery (adjusted OR 1.12, 95% CI 0.67–1.88).

Conclusions

Binge drinking may be a potential risk factor for non-recovery from CMD, although the possibility of no effect cannot be excluded. Larger studies are required to refute or confirm this finding.

Keywords

Alcoholanxietydepressionlongitudinalrecovery
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 38 , Issue 3 , March 2008 , pp. 451 - 455
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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