Symptomatology of depression and anxiety in female "social drinkers"

Self-reported alcohol use, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiet y Inventory (BAI) scores were obtained during on-site interviews of 172 fem ale applicants for paid participation in behavioral research. Mood symptoma tology as reflected in BDI and BAI scores was analyzed as a function of alc ohol use and other demographic variables. Women reporting even light alcoho l use (up to three drinks per week) were significantly more symptomatic tha n abstinent women. In contrast, no significant differences in symptomatolog y were observed due to race or education level. This analysis extends previ ous findings of depressed mood in women (while sober) whose lifestyle inclu des moderate alcohol consumption and suggests that even light alcohol use i s related to depressed and/or anxious mood.