Self-reported precedence of depression in alcoholism.

Seventy-six male and 29 female outpatient alcoholics were asked whether or not they had been depressed prior to their starting to drink excessively, and the sample was also administered the Quantity-frequency Index, Impairment Index, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Hopelessness Scale, Scale for Suicidal Ideation, and Hamilton Psychiatric Rating Scale for Depression. Depression was described by 45.7% of the alcoholics as having preceded their starting to drink heavily; 15.2% denied ever having been depressed; and 39.1% stated that their alcoholism had preceded the development of depression. Stepwise multiple regression of the alcoholics' psychosocial characteristics on whether or not depression preceded the alcoholism indicated that persons who described themselves as having been depressed prior to developing alcoholism were more likely to be women, white, and previously hospitalized for alcoholism.