Teetotallers more likely to be depressed
01 September 2009
Individuals who abstain from alcohol consumption are at increased risk of depression according to a new study published in the September issue of the journal Addiction. Dr Samuel Harvey and Dr Max Henderson, from Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, were co-authors on the paper which represents an ongoing collaboration between research groups based in London and Norway.
It has long been recognised that excessive alcohol consumption can lead to poor physical and mental health. However, there has been mounting evidence that low levels of alcohol consumption may also be associated with mental illness, possibly due to abstainers having other health problems or being reformed heavy drinkers.
The study utilised data from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT Study) based in Norway. This provided information on the drinking habits and mental health of over 38,000 individuals. The authors were able to show that those individuals who reported drinking no alcohol over a two week period were more likely than moderate drinkers to report symptoms of depression. Those individuals who additionally labelled themselves as 'abstainers' were at the highest risk of depression. Other factors, such as age, physical health problems and number of close friends could explain some, but not all of this increased risk. The authors also had access to reported levels of alcohol consumption 11 years prior to the main survey. Even after taking account of previous heavy drinking the increased risk of depression amongst abstainers remained.
Dr Harvey said 'These results are unlikely to mean that drinking alcohol prevents depression, in fact we know the opposite is usually true. In societies where some use of alcohol is the norm, the self-penned label of abstainer may be associated with many other factors. It may well be that some of these associated factors which turn out to be the true cause of the increased risk of depression.'
It should be noted that alcohol use is associated with many physical health problems, with excessive alcohol consumption being estimated to contribute to over 33 000 death in the UK each year and many more injuries. The current guidance is for men to drink no more than three to four units each day, and women to drink no more than two to three units.
Dr Harvey is supported by the National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London.
Reference to original paper: Skogen J. C., Harvey S. B., Henderson M., Stordal E., Mykletun A. Anxiety and depression among abstainers and low-level alcohol consumers. Addiction 2009; 104: 1519-1529
Paper available as online preview: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/122529073/PDFSTART