[Subsyndromal depressive semiology in severe alcoholism]

Several investigations have communicated frequent association between alcohol dependence and depression.

21 subjects with DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence were included in an open label trial for alcohol withdrawal. At inclusion and along the follow-up none of the probands met DSM-IV criteria for mood disorder. Follow-up included a 15-day detoxification period and 195 days of withdrawal program, including treatment with 20 mg/d of fluoxetine. Occurrence of depressive semiology was measured using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) on day 15 (after detoxification), day 75 and day 210 (after withdrawal from ethanol of 195 days).

67% of the sample showed a positive basal BDI (after-detoxification-BDI> 9). Global retention rate after 210 days of follow-up was 57%. All patients who dropped out the investigation before completing the protocol showed a basal BDI in the depressive rank (BDI= 10-63), and maintained depressive scores in this instrument until their abandonment.

Prevalence of <> in this population appears to be high. This clinical feature is frequently ignored because most of the patients do not meet standardized diagnostic criteria for mood disorders. Post-detoxification BDI could be used as a predictive factor of therapeutic result in long-term alcohol withdrawal programs. In addition, in our study fluoxetine showed efficacy in maintaining long-term alcohol abstinence.