Alcoholism At Large

Heavy drinking can cause depression
For problem drinkers, bouts of depressive symptoms are often the direct result of their heavy alcohol intake, according to a recent study. “If you’re an alcoholic, you’re going to have a lot of mood problems,” said lead researcher Marc A. Schuckit, M.D., of the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. “And you may be tempted to say, ‘Well, I drink a lot because I’m depressed.’ You may be right, but it’s even more likely that you’re depressed because you drink heavily.” It’s important for doctors to consider alcohol use disorders as a possible cause of patients’ depression symptoms, he added, rather than simply “reaching for the prescription pad” and recommending an antidepressant.