Alcohol use as a predictor of the course of major depressive disorder: a prospective population-based study

Maria J. E. Schouten, Margreet ten Have, Marlous Tuithof, Ron de Graaf, Jack J. M. Dekker, Anna E. Goudriaan, Matthijs Blankers

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Aims There are indications that problematic alcohol use may negatively impact the course of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, most studies on alcohol use and adverse MDD outcomes are conducted amongst MDD populations with (severe) alcohol use disorder in psychiatric treatment settings. Therefore, it remains unclear whether these results can be generalised to the general population. In light of this, we examined the longitudinal relationship between alcohol use and MDD persistence after a 3-year follow-up amongst people with MDD from the general population. Methods Data were derived from the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study-2 (NEMESIS-2), a psychiatric epidemiological prospective study comprising four waves amongst the adult Dutch general population (n = 6.646). The study sample (n = 642) consisted of those with 12-month MDD who participated at the follow-up wave. The outcome was 12-month MDD persistence after the 3-year follow-up, which was assessed via the Composite International Diagnostic Interview version 3.0.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere14
Pages (from-to)e14
JournalEpidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences
Volume32
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 27 Feb 2023

Keywords

  • alcohol abuse
  • depression
  • epidemiology
  • mental health
  • prospective study

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