Objective: Alcohol use disorders are associated with increased illness severity and suicidality in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, little is known about how alcohol use across the continuum relates to MDD.
Method: Subjects were 496 adults (201 men, 295 women) who completed a community-based telephone survey that incorporated a validated structured diagnostic interview for depression and a validated alcohol questionnaire. Subjects were divided into 3 alcohol consumption groups based on Canadian low-risk drinking guidelines: minimal (MIN), moderate (MOD), and heavy (HVY) alcohol consumption.
Results: Among subjects with MDD, drinking group was not associated with measures of disability, health service use, or life satisfaction. Among all women, the prevalence of depression increased significantly across drinking groups (MIN, 24.6%; MOD, 30.3%; HVY, 44.0% [linear-by-linear association chi(2) = 4.1, df = 1, P < .05]), as did the prevalence of suicidality among women with MDD (MIN, 16.3%; MOD, 29.6%; HVY, 45.5% [chi(2) = 4.5, df = 1, P < .05]).
Conclusion: A range of alcohol consumption, not just heavy drinking, may be associated with major depression and suicidality.