Posttreatment depression in an alcohol and drug abuse population

The prevalence and extent of relapse and the prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms were measured cross-sectionally in a group of alcohol and drug abusers (N = 842) at 1, 6, or 12 months after their discharge from alcohol or drug abuse treatment. The rate and severity of depressive symptoms for subjects who did not relapse were no higher than those found among the general population. However, among subjects who relapsed, the rate and severity of depressive symptoms were higher than those found in the general population. Women were more depressed than men after treatment, but the ratio of depressed women to men was no higher than that found in the general population.