Symptoms of depression, suicidal behaviour and use of substances in Greece: a nationwide general population survey.

This study aimed at investigating the relationship between the use of unprescribed licit and illicit drugs and problematic drinking with reported depressive symptoms and suicidal behaviour in a nationwide general population sample of 4291 respondents aged 12 to 64. Depressive symptoms were detected by the use of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). A higher proportion of respondents who have reported illicit drug use in their lifetime were found to be depressed with a > 16 score in the CES-D in all age groups and both sexes, than of the other categories of substance use. A multiple range test revealed 3 groups of substance users. The more frequent illicit drug users together with the problematic drinkers exhibited the higher average depressive symptoms scores. The 12-month prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts was found to be in accordance with the severity and frequency of substance consumption.