Symptoms and diagnosis of depression in alcoholics

We examined depressive symptoms, using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), in a group of 50 alcoholic patients, diagnosed according to DSM III criteria during active drinking, withdrawal (4 days after their last drink), and abstinence (24 days after their last drink). DSM III diagnoses of major depression were made in 16 (32%) of the patients. The diagnoses were made using the NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) between the 10th and 24th day after the patients' last drink. Depressive symptoms decreased markedly as the patients progressed from active drinking to abstinence. Alcoholic patients having a diagnosis of major depression had higher BDI scores than those not having a diagnosis of major depression. Analysis of BDI items using a two-parameter logistic item response model confirmed that the BDI measured depressive symptoms in these alcoholics. We conclude that the BDI is valid for screening for depression in alcoholic patients.