Men on Antidepressants Drink Less Often
Data was collected by interviewing 14,063 adults ages 18 to 76 about depression symptoms, drinking habits, antidepressant use and other health factors.
Overall, five percent of men and ten percent of women met the criteria for major depression, and these individuals generally drank more than other study participants. Among men, however, those on antidepressants drank an average of 414 drinks over the past year, versus 579 among depressed men not on medication and 436 for non-depressed men.
Depressed women showed no difference in their drinking, regardless of their treatment.
Future studies, the researchers conclude, should confirm whether antidepressants have different effects on men's and women's drinking, or whether some other factor explains the results.
Comments
As an Emeritus Professor of Political Science, and one who has conducted numerous studies over his 24 year tenure, I would be very interested in how this study was conducted.
For example, the data can be skewed depending on how the questionnaire was designed. In addition, it would be interesting to know what type of statistical analysis was used to analyze the data.
There are a host of factors that can account for depressed women’s use of alcohol while on antidepressants that are not present in men. The first, and to me the most obvious would have to do with women’s cycles. Was this tested for? And, if so, what were the results. It just says “other health factors.” As a former researcher, I would be very interested in knowing exactly what these “other health factors” are.
The reduction in alcohol by men while taking antidepressants is not surprising since a vast majority of depressed people who use alcohol or other drugs are simply self-medicating their symptoms. Once the depression has been treated the need for such activities is greatly reduced.
didn’t someone do a study where they took rates of depressed men and women, and the women were higher. Then they added in the rates for alcoholism & physical abuse, and suddenly the rates were about equal.
conclusion: women cry, men drink.