1. The association between alcohol
consumption and alcohol abuse
among drinkers in males or females
and relation of alcohol abuse with
depression
Vipul Jain, Espoo, Finland
2. Introduction
While alcohol consumption is not considered out of place in
society, alcohol abuse or addiction is still a concerning problem.
Most studies have shown a correlation between alcohol consumption
and alcohol related abuse, less is known of gender distribution of
alcohol abuse. We need to ascertain if males or females are more
likely to have alcohol addiction or related problems.
Furthermore, greater alcohol consumption is more likely to cause
psychiatric problems like depression. These psychiatric problems may
have some association with alcohol abuse among drinkers.
3. Research Question
• Is alcohol abuse associated with rate of
alcohol consumption
• Are people suffering from depression more
likely to suffer from alcohol abuse
• Is the association between drinking and
alcohol abuse similar for both males and
females
4. Methods
Sample
• Population of people who drank alcohol in last one year (n=26654) was drawn for
the first wave of National Epidemiologic study of Alcohol and related conditions
(NESARC)
• NESARC is a nationally representative sample non-institutionalized adults in US.
Measures
• Major depression was assessed using the NIAAA, Alcohol Use Disorder and
Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule – DSM-IV (AUDADIS-IV)
• The alcohol module includes questions on symptom criteria for DSM-IV alcohol
abuse/dependence
• Alcohol abuse is a broad term for alcohol abuse or dependence or both
• Current alcohol consumption was evaluated through frequency "How often
drank any alcohol in last 12 months“ and quantity "Number of drinks of any
alcohol usually consumed on days when drank alcohol in last 12 months"
5. Results
Univariate
• Yearly, drinkers drank an average of 1651 drinks (s.d 5049)
• 12.3% of drinkers met the criteria for DSM-IV alcohol abuse/dependence in the
past year
• A total of 20% met the criteria for major depression at some point in their life
Bivariate
• People suffering from depression are more likely to suffer from alcohol abuse if the
drinkers come within the same drinking category.
• Drinkers it seems, male or female were equally likely to be drinking much heavily
if suffering from alcohol abuse than not. P<0.0001 for both males and females
shows that for both alcohol abuse is related to heavier alcohol consumption. Male
(261, 963) and Female (117,603) (mean drinks/yr)(No alc. Abuse, alc. Abuse)
6. GRAPH: Number of Drinks consumed and alcohol
abuse by major depression among drinkers
7. GRAPH: ANOVA Moderation association between alcohol
abuse and amount of consumption of drinks by gender
8. Discussion
What might the results mean?
• Alcohol abuse seems to be strongly associated with alcohol consumption among drinkers
• Individuals with major depression seem to be more sensitive to alcohol abuse for each
drinking category
• Association between alcohol abuse and consumption holds for both males and females.
Strengths
• Results are based on a large nationally representative sample of U.S. drinkers
Limitations
• The present findings are based on cross-sectional data and do not reflect the alcohol
consumption levels at which alcohol abuse emerges among the drinkers with or without
depression
Recommended Future research
• Further research is needed to determine whether sensitivity to alcohol abuse or addiction
may be based on physical and/or psychological differences related to major depression
