Comparison Of Anxiety And Depression Between Men With Moderate Versus Severe Alcohol Dependence
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69980/ajpr.v28i5.669Keywords:
Alcohol dependence, Anxiety, Depression, Men, Male.Abstract
Background: Alcohol dependence (AD) is frequently associated with anxiety and depression, with symptom severity often linked to the level of dependence.
Aim: To compare anxiety and depression between men with moderate AD and severe AD.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 109 married male patients with AD at a tertiary care centre in Rajasthan. Participants were categorized into moderate (n = 57) and severe (n = 52) dependence groups using the Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire. Anxiety and depression were assessed with the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D).
Results: Participants with severe AD reported significantly earlier initiation of alcohol use (p = 0.013) and higher mean HAM-A (p = 0.04) and HAM-D (p < 0.001) scores. Severe AD was characterized by a greater proportion of severe anxiety and severe to very severe depression, whereas moderate AD was more commonly associated with moderate symptoms. Logistic regression indicated that shorter duration of dependence (<10 years) reduced odds of higher anxiety, while severity of dependence strongly predicted depressive symptoms.
Conclusion: Severe AD is associated with significantly greater anxiety and depression. These findings highlight the need for early detection and severity-focused psychiatric interventions in alcohol dependence care.
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