Is There Really a 'J-shaped' Curve in the Association Between Alcohol Consumption and Depression? Findings From the Mater-University Study of Pregnancy and its Outcomes

Alati, R., Lawlor, D. A., Najman, J. M., Williams, G. M., Bor, W. and O'Callaghan, M. (2005) Is There Really a 'J-shaped' Curve in the Association Between Alcohol Consumption and Depression? Findings From the Mater-University Study of Pregnancy and its Outcomes. Addiction, 100 5: 643-651.

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Author(s) Alati, R.
Lawlor, D. A.
Najman, J. M.
Williams, G. M.
Bor, W.
O'Callaghan, M.
Title Is There Really a 'J-shaped' Curve in the Association Between Alcohol Consumption and Depression? Findings From the Mater-University Study of Pregnancy and its Outcomes
Journal name Addiction  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank A)
Publication date 2005-05
Sub-type Article
Volume number 100
Issue number 5
ISSN 1360-0443 and 0965-2140
Start page 643
End page 651
Total pages 9
Editor(s) R. West
Place of publication Abingdon, England
Publisher Blackwell Publishing
Collection year 2005
Language eng
Subject 321204 Mental Health
C1
730205 Substance abuse
730211 Mental health
Abstract Aims To determine the nature of the association between alcohol consumption and symptoms of anxiety and depression in women. Design Prospective cohort study of women (n = 4527) who received antenatal care at a major public hospital (Mater Misericordiae Hospital) in South Brisbane between 1981 and 1984 and who have follow-up data on alcohol use, depressive and anxiety symptoms over a 14-year period. Findings At the 5-year follow-up there was a 'J-shaped' association between alcohol Consumption and both symptoms of depression and of anxiety. However, at the baseline assessment and the 14-year follow-up alcohol consumption was linearly and positively associated with depressive symptoms with increasing prevalence of symptoms with greater consumption. At the 5-year follow-up the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms among those who were abstainers at both baseline and 5-year follow-up was similar to that among those who had been previous drinkers and then become abstainers (P = 0.67). Similarly, the prevalence of these symptoms was the same at the 14-year followup comparing those who had been abstainers at baseline, 5-year and 14-year follow-up to those who had previously consumed alcohol but were then abstainers. Conclusions The nature of the association between alcohol consumption and symptoms of depression and anxiety may vary across their life course in women. Previous drinkers who become abstainers do not appear to be at any higher risk of symptoms of depression or anxiety compared to those who always abstained, suggesting that increased symptoms in abstainers at age 30 is not due to 'sick quitters'. The association of high alcohol consumption with symptoms of depression and anxiety may be confounded by low income and smoking.
Keyword(s) Alcohol
Depression
Mothers
Longitudinal Studies
Anxiety
Consumption
Abstainers
J-shaped Association
Longditudinal Study
Coronary-heart-disease
Mortality
Population
Morbidity
Patterns
Health
Substance Abuse
Psychiatry
Q-Index Code C1
Additional Notes Citation: Rosa Alati, Debbie A Lawlor, Jake M Najman, Gail M Williams, William Bor and Michael O'Callaghan (2005) Is there really a 'J-shaped' curve in the association between alcohol consumption and symptoms of depression and anxiety? Findings from the Mater-University Study of Pregnancy and its outcomes Addiction, 100 (5) : 643-651 doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2005.01063.x Copyright Blackwell Publishing. All rights reserved.
 
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