The association between alcoholism and affective disorders is complex
and has fomented much debate. Problems occur because of confusion in
definitions (e.g., the distinction between drinking and alcoholism on the
one hand and sadness and major affective disorders on the other) and
because sadness and even intense temporary secondary affective episodes are
often seen in the course of alcoholism. The author notes five possible
factors contributing to the confusion between these two disorders and
points out several ways to approach the problems of patients who have more
than one concurrent clinical syndrome. Using the data from a literature
review, he concludes that alcoholism and affective disorder appear to be
independent diseases with some overlap in clinical symptoms.Abstract Teaser