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Effects of Alcohol Consumption on the Treatment of Depression Among Elderly Patients

Received July 27, 1999; revised October 25, 1999; accepted November 23, 1999. From the Section of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA and the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Philadelphia, PA. Address correspondence to Dr. Oslin, University of Pennsylvania, Ralston Penn Center, 3615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. e-mail: oslin{at}mail.med.upenn.edu

The authors examined the effects of alcohol use on the short-term and 3–4-month treatment outcomes of patients with late-life depression. Patients (N=2,666) were assessed for symptoms of depression, alcohol use, and disability during an initial inpatient hospitalization and then 3–4 months postdischarge. Contrary to our hypothesis that alcohol consumption imparted a significant additive detriment to treatment outcome in patients already suffering from major depression, the results suggest that treatment was effective even in those with concomitant use of alcohol. Moreover, there appeared to be an added benefit when even modest alcohol consumption was decreased among elderly patients suffering from depression.

Key Words: Alcohol • Depression • Antidepressant Response

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