Addressing comorbid depressive symptomatology in alcohol treatment

Clinicians often encounter patients who have comorbid alcoholism and depres sion. The presence of both disorders makes treatment especially challenging . Among individuals seeking treatment for alcohol dependence, depression an d depressive symptoms are associated with poorer treatment outcomes, and de pressed mood may play an important role in relapse to drinking. Results of a recent study suggest that adding cognitive-behavioral treatment of depres sion to alcohol treatment can be an effective means of reducing depressive symptoms and improving drinking outcomes in alcoholics with elevated levels of depressive symptoms. This approach may be particularly useful for clini cians seeking a nonmedical intervention to reduce depression during alcohol treatment.