Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Prevalence and Predictors of Symptoms of Depression Among Individuals Seeking Treatment from Australian Drug and Alcohol Outpatient Clinics

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Community Mental Health Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examined the prevalence of and sociodemographic characteristics associated with elevated symptoms of depression among clients seeking alcohol or other drug (AOD) treatment. Consenting clients attending two AOD outpatient clinics answered demographics, treatment questions and the Patient Health Questionnaire to assess depressive symptoms. Counts and percentages were calculated to determine the prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms. Logistic regression was used to model the odds of having elevated depressive symptoms for client demographics. Of the 203 clients who completed the survey (87% consent rate), 55% (n = 111) demonstrated elevated depressive symptoms. Females were twice as likely to experience elevated symptoms of depression compared to males (OR 2.07; 95% CI 1.05, 4.08; P = 0.037). The high rates of elevated depressive symptoms among individuals seeking AOD treatment highlight the importance of ongoing research to provide effective treatments for this comorbidity. Routine screening and clear treatment pathways may assist with providing high quality care.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baker, A., Lee, N., Claire, M., Lewin, T., Grant, T., Pohlman, S., et al. (2004). Drug use patterns and mental health of regular amphetamine users during a reported ‘heroin drought’. Addiction,99(7), 875–884.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berk, M., Hallam, K., Malhi, G., Henry, L., Hasty, M., Macneil, C., et al. (2010). Evidence and implications for early intervention in bipolar disorder. Journal of Mental Health,19, 113–126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bilsker, D., & White, J. (2011). The silent epidemic of male suicide. BCMJ,53(10), 529–534.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burgess, P., Pirkis, J., Slade, T., Johnston, A., Meadows, G., & Gunn, J. (2009). Service use for mental health problems: Findings from the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry,43, 615–623.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burns, L., Teesson, M., & O’Neill, K. (2005). The impact of comorbid anxiety and depression on alcohol treatment outcomes. Addiction,100(6), 787–796.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chan, Y.-F., Dennis, M., & Funk, R. (2008). Prevalence and comorbidity of major internalizing and externalizing problems among adolescents and adults presenting to substance abuse treatment. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment,34(1), 14–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cole, M., & Sacks, T. (2008). When dual diagnosis means no diagnosis: Co-occurring mental illness and problematic drug use in clients of alcohol and drug services in eastern metropolitan Melbourne. Mental Health and Substance Use,1, 33–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darke, S., Swift, W., & Hall, W. (1994). Prevalence, severity and correlates of psychological morbidity among methadone maintenance clients. Addiction,89, 211–217.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Darke, S., Wodak, A., Hall, W., Heather, N., & Ward, J. (1992). Prevalence and predictors of psychopathology among opioid users. British Journal of Addiction,87, 771–776.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, L., Frazier, E., Husain, M., Warden, D., Trivedi, M., Fava, M., et al. (2006). Substance use disorder comorbidity in major depressive disorder: A confirmatory analysis of the STAR*D cohort. Am J Addict,15, 278–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deane, F., Kelly, P., Crowe, T., Coulson, J., & Lyons, G. (2013). Clinical and reliable change in an Australian residential substance use program using the addiction severity index. Journal of Addictive Diseases,32, 194–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delgadillo, J., Payne, S., Gilbody, S., Godfrey, C., Gore, S., Jessop, D., et al. (2011). How reliable is depression screening in alcohol and drug users? A validation of brief and ultra-brief questionnaires. Journal of Affective Disorders,134(1–3), 266–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dingle, G., & King, P. (2009). Prevalence and impact of co-occurring psychiatric disorders on outcomes from a private hospital drug and alcohol treatment program. Mental Health and Substance Use,2, 13–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dore, G., Mills, K., Murray, R., Teesson, M., & Farrugia, P. (2012). Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and suicidality in inpatients with substance use disorders. Drug and Alcohol Review,31, 294–301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dum, M., Pickren, J., Sobell, L., & Sobell, M. B. (2008). Comparing the BDI-II and the PHQ-9 with outpatient substance abusers. Addictive Behaviors,33(2), 381–387.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrari, A. J., Charlson, F. J., Norman, R. E., Patten, S. B., Freedman, G., Murray, C. J. L., et al. (2013). Burden of depressive disorders by country, sex, age, and year: Findings from the global burden of disease study 2010. PLoS Medicine,10(11), e1001547.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freeman, A., Tyrovolas, S., Koyanagi, A., Chatterji, S., Leonardi, M., Ayuso-Mateos, J., … Haro, J. (2016). The role of socio-economic status in depression: Results from the COURAGE (aging survey in Europe). BMC Public Health, 16, e1098.

  • Hepner, K. A., Hunter, S. B., Edelen, M. O., Zhou, A. J., & Watkins, K. (2009). A comparison of two depressive symptomatology measures in residential substance abuse treatment clients. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment,37(3), 318–325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoebel, J., Maske, U., Zeeb, H., & Lampert, T. (2017). Social inequalities and depressive symptoms in adults: The role of objective and subjective socioeconomic status. PLoS ONE,12, e0169764.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hood, S., & O’Neil, G. H. G. (2009). The role of flumazenil in the treatment of benzodiazepine dependence: Physiological and psychological profiles. Journal of Psychopharmacology,23, 401–409.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins, R. (2007). Substance use and suicidal behaviour. Psychiatry,6(1), 16–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johns, K., Baker, A., Webster, R., & Lewin, T. (2009). Factors associated with retention in a long-term residential rehabilitation programme for women with substance use problems. Mental Health and Substance Use,2, 40–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnston, A., Pirkis, J., & Burgess, P. (2009). Suicidal thoughts and behaviours among Australian adults: Findings from the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry,43, 635–643.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kingston, R. E. F., Marel, C., & Mills, K. (2016). A systematic review of the prevalence of comorbid mental health disorders in people presenting for substance use treatment in Australia. Drug and Alcohol Review. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.12448.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R., & Williams, J. (2001). The PHQ-9: Validity of a brief depression severity measure. Journal of General Internal Medicine,16(9), 606–613.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lai, H. M., Cleary, M., Sitharthan, T., & Hunt, G. E. (2015). Prevalence of comorbid substance use, anxiety and mood disorders in epidemiological surveys, 1990–2014: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Drug and Alcohol Dependence,154, 1–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lejoyeux, M., & Lehert, P. (2011). Alcohol-use disorders and depression: Results from individual patient data meta-analysis of the acamprosate-controlled studies. Alcohol and Alcoholism,46(1), 61–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lubman, D., Allen, N., Rogers, N., Cementon, E., & Bonomo, Y. (2007). The impact of co-occurring mood and anxiety disorders among substance-abusing youth. Journal of Affective Disorders,103, 105–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marel, C., Mills, K., Kingston, R., Gournay, K., Deady, M., Kay-Lambkin, F., … Teesson, M. (2016). Guidelines on the management of co-occurring alcohol and other drug and mental health conditions in alcohol and other drug treatment settings. Retrieved from Sydney, Australia.

  • Martin, L., Neighbors, H., & Griffith, D. (2013). The experience of symptoms of depression in men vs women: Analysis of the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. JAMA Psychiatry,70(10), 1100–1106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKetin, R., Lubman, D., Lee, N., Ross, J., & Slade, T. (2011). Major depression among methamphetamine users entering drug treatment programs. Medical Journal of Australia,195, S51–S55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mortlock, K., Deane, F., & Crowe, T. (2011). Screening for mental disorder comorbidity in Australian alcohol and other drug residential treatment settings. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment,40, 397–404.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nunes, E., & Levin, F. (2004). Treatment of depression in patients with alcohol or other drug dependence: A meta-analysis. JAMA,291(15), 1887–1896.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riolo, S., Nguyen, T., Greden, J., & King, C. (2005). Prevalence of depression by race/ethnicity: Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III. American Journal of Public Health,95(6), 998–1000.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross, J., Teesson, M., Darke, S., Lynskey, M., Ali, R., Ritter, A., et al. (2005). The characteristics of heroin users entering treatment: Findings from the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS). Drug and Alcohol Review,24, 411–418.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stafford, M., Jackson, H., Mayo-Wilson, E., Morrison, A., & Kendall, T. (2013). Early interventions to prevent psychosis: Systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ,346, f185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Staiger, P., Thomas, A., Ricciardelli, L., & McCabe, M. (2011). Identifying depression and anxiety disorders in people presenting for substance use treatment. Medical Journal of Australia,195, S60–S63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teesson, M., Slade, T., & Mills, K. (2009). Comorbidity in Australia: Findings of the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry,43(7), 606–614.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) (1073031). Ms. Breanne Hobden is supported by an Australian Rotary Health, Ian Scott Mental Health PhD Scholarship (G1401254). Dr. Mariko Carey is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Translating Research into Practice Fellowship (1073031). Dr. Jamie Bryant is supported by an Australian Research Council Post-Doctoral Industry Fellowship (1105809). The researchers would like to thank the staff at the AOD clinics.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Behaviour Research Collaborative, School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia

    Breanne Hobden, Mariko Carey, Jamie Bryant & Rob Sanson-Fisher

  2. Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia

    Breanne Hobden, Mariko Carey, Jamie Bryant & Rob Sanson-Fisher

  3. Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia

    Breanne Hobden, Mariko Carey, Jamie Bryant & Rob Sanson-Fisher

  4. Public Health Stream, Hunter Medical Research Institute, HMRI Building, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2308, Australia

    Christopher Oldmeadow

  5. Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Newcastle, HMRI Building, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia

    Christopher Oldmeadow

  6. Health Behaviour Research Group, W4, HMRI Building, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia

    Breanne Hobden

Authors
  1. Breanne Hobden
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mariko Carey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jamie Bryant
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rob Sanson-Fisher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Christopher Oldmeadow
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

All authors certify responsibility for this manuscript, as outlined by the Community Mental Health Journal.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Breanne Hobden.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical Approval

The Hunter New England Human Research Ethics Committee (15/06/17/4.02) and the University of Newcastle (H-2015-0414) granted full ethical approval for this research. All procedures performed in this study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hobden, B., Carey, M., Bryant, J. et al. Prevalence and Predictors of Symptoms of Depression Among Individuals Seeking Treatment from Australian Drug and Alcohol Outpatient Clinics. Community Ment Health J 56, 107–115 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-019-00451-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-019-00451-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation