Depression & Substance Use Disorder

Although the user may rely on substances used to relieve symptoms of depression, chemical intoxication can actually make depressive episodes more severe, increasing the frequency and intensity of negative thoughts and self-destructive behavior.

A rehab program that addresses both depression and addiction may help to stop the progression of both disorders and empower the individual to build a healthy, sober life in recovery.

Learn how American Addiction Centers may be able to help get you through depression and substance use issues at the same time by calling our toll-free and confidential national addiction hotline.

Understanding Depression

Over 350 million people suffer from depression worldwide, and only about 50% of these individuals will ever receive treatment.² In the United States, over 15 million adults experience an episode of clinical depression in any given year—close to 7% of the population.³

Depression can have an impact on physical and emotional wellbeing, as well as personal relationships, occupational status, and financial health. But how does depression differ from a long case of the blues?

A mood disorder like depression is not the result of bereavement or a personal setback, such as the death of a loved one or loss of a job, but a chronic, progressive illness that may get worse without treatment.

The only way to treat this serious disorder effectively is through professional therapeutic interventions, such as behavioral modification, support groups, motivational therapy, and antidepressant medications.

Types of Depressive Disorders

Depression can take several different forms based on the severity, duration, and cause of its symptoms. Depression may be best understood as a spectrum of moods rather than a series of separate, clearly defined categories.⁴

For the sake of diagnosing and treating this serious disorder, psychiatric experts have identified several categories. Along with these categories, there are a number of depressive disorders associated with specific life stressors, psychological conditions, or emotionally taxing situations. These situational disorders share many of the symptoms of general depression, but they occur under specific circumstances and may resolve once these situations are changed.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Major depressive disorder, or MDD, is characterized by at least 2 weeks of a low, depressed mood, along with 4 or more additional symptoms of depression, such as suicidal thoughts, a loss of physical energy, sleep disturbances, or feelings of low self-worth.⁵

MDD is one of the most common forms of mental illness. In 2013, nearly 16 million American adults, or almost 7% of the adult population, had at least one major depressive episode.⁶

Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD)

Also known as dysthymic disorder, or dysthymia, persistent depressive disorder is marked by low moods and depressive symptoms that continue for 2 or more years. Individuals with persistent depressive disorder may appear to be chronically gloomy, irritable, or moody, but these traits could actually be signs of a mood disorder. Symptoms may not be as severe as the signs of a major depressive episode, but the effects on quality of life can be just as severe.⁵

Bipolar 1 & 2 Disorders

Depressive episodes are a key component of bipolar 1 and bipolar 2 diagnoses, with hypomanic and major depressive episodes characterizing a bipolar 2 diagnosis specifically. Many individuals with bipolar disorder experience episodes of major depression that last for weeks or months, with less frequent cycles of energetic activity and elevated mood.⁵ It can be difficult to diagnose an individual with bipolar disorder without tracking these mood changes over an extended period of time.

Postpartum Depression

Having a baby is a life-altering experience, but for many women, the transition to motherhood causes emotional difficulties. Up to 16% of women could have depressive symptoms after giving birth.⁷

New mothers with a history of depression or anxiety, women under financial or personal stress, and women with inadequate social support are especially vulnerable to postpartum depression. Hormonal imbalances after pregnancy, nutritional deficiencies, and exposure to chemical toxins may also play a role in this form of depression.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Also known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, this condition is triggered by changes in light and temperature that accompany the seasons of the year. People with SAD may report lower moods, loss of energy, sleep disturbances, and weight changes at specific times of the year.⁸

Common Symptoms of Depression

Unlike ordinary sadness or grief, which can occur temporarily after a loss, the symptoms of depression occur nearly every day for weeks—sometimes months or years—interfering with all aspects of an individual’s life.

To meet the diagnostic criteria for depression established by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition< (DSM-5), a person must experience 5 or more symptoms of the disorder almost every day for at least 2 weeks, and these symptoms must not be related to a coexisting medical condition or the effects of substance abuse.⁵ They include:⁵

How Depression Affects Daily Life and Relationships

The symptoms of depression can cause noticeable problems with work, school, family life, and social relationships. People experiencing a depressive episode may have trouble getting out of bed in the morning due to a lack of energy, fatigue, and a loss of motivation.

They may lose interest in hobbies or pursuits that they were once passionate about or avoid activities that used to give them pleasure. They may be frequently tearful, talk about harming themselves, or become obsessed with thoughts and images of death.

For the loved ones of a depressed person, dealing with the symptoms can be both frightening and frustrating. It’s normal to try to cheer up a friend or to encourage them to “snap out of it”; however, depressive symptoms do not respond to these offers of help.

Connection Between Alcoholism & Major Depression

Research has revealed that many of the factors that contribute to depression also play a part in substance use disorders. This is known as co-occurring disorders, or a dual diagnosis. Depression and addiction frequently involve:

• Imbalances in brain chemistry.
• Family history.
• Past trauma.

In addition, the physical and psychological effects of addiction may mask the signs of depression or worsen the symptoms of this psychiatric illness.

Connection Between Alcoholism & Major Depression

There’s a strong connection between alcoholism and major depression.⁹

In a nationwide study of 43,093 adults 18 years old and over, researchers found that for those suffering from a current alcohol addiction, there was evidence that over 20% of them also met the criteria for that of a comorbid major depressive disorder.⁹

Survey respondents in search of treatment for an alcohol use disorder were over 40% more likely than the general population to have at least one mood disorder.⁹

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that may initially function as a stimulant, but that quickly intensifies feelings of lethargy, drowsiness, and depression. Alcohol use, which lowers inhibitions and impairs judgment, can also increase the risk that a depressed individual will attempt suicide.¹⁰

Alcohol and drug use can worsen the course of a depressive disorder by aggravating the symptoms of depression, increasing the likelihood of hospitalization, and interfering with the course of treatment. Individuals who are being treated for depression while using drugs or alcohol are unlikely to see positive outcomes from therapy unless the substance use is taken into account and treated concurrently.

Substance use can impair motivation and decreases the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. In addition, alcohol or drugs can have dangerous interactions with the medications used to treat depression.

The most effective approach to treating depression is a program that integrates mental health and recovery services at the same facility, with a staff of professionals who are cross trained in both fields.

Investigating the Causes of Depression

Depression is one of the most common and most debilitating mood disorders, yet researchers still haven’t determined the exact cause of this condition. There are, however, several theories about the roots of depression.

Brain Structure

The brains of some individuals with depressive disorder are structurally different from those who do not have depression. MRI imaging studies reveal that the areas of the brain that are responsible for mood, cognition, metabolic function, and sleeping have a unique appearance in people who have serious mood disorders.¹¹

Environment & Childhood Experience

A disorderly home environment or a history of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse in childhood can increase the chances of developing depression in adolescence or adulthood.¹² Trauma therapy can be extremely useful for processing unresolved memories and healing the suppressed emotional wounds that can contribute to depression later in life.

Genetics

The neurological differences that distinguish people with depression are at least partly hereditary. Genetic research shows that people who have a close relative, such as a parent or sibling, with depression are 20 to 30% more likely to suffer from depression themselves.¹³

Unlike diseases that are linked to a specific, defective gene, such as cystic fibrosis, depression is more likely to be linked to several genes.

Situational Factors

Although the losses that we all experience do not necessarily cause depression, a severe setback can trigger a depressive episode. For instance, the death of a loved one or a bitter divorce could send a person into a period of grief and bereavement, which may turn into depression if the emotions surrounding that loss are not adequately resolved.

Unlike bereavement, depression is often accompanied by feelings of worthlessness, self-loathing, or suicidal thoughts.

Brain Chemistry

Neurologists and pharmacologists have long pursued the connection between brain chemistry and depression in an effort to offer solutions to this disabling condition. Depression has been linked to imbalances in the brain chemicals, or neurotransmitters, that regulate emotional states, moods, energy levels, and appetite, such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.¹⁴

As with other types of chronic mental illness, there are usually several factors involved in the development of depression. A family history of depression, for example, may be combined with a history of past trauma or the breakup of a marriage to make an individual more vulnerable to depression.

Treatment Options for Depression & Co-Occurring Addiction

People struggling with depression often feel isolated, profoundly lonely, and powerless. Fortunately, depression—even with co-occurring substance use disorder (SUD)—is treatable.

The treatment of depressive disorders with co-occurring addiction can be challenging. Depressive symptoms such as low motivation, low self-worth, and a flat emotional affect may imitate the effects of chemical intoxication or withdrawal.

In order for the treatment team to distinguish between the effects of depression and substance use, the client must undergo a thorough psychiatric assessment.¹⁵ Although major depressive disorder is one of the most serious, debilitating types of mental illness, it’s also very treatable with the right combination of therapeutic strategies. With the help of qualified, licensed mental health professionals, depressed individuals can be treated, and their families can recover hope for the future.¹⁶

When substance use occurs with a depressive disorder, treatment for both disorders simultaneously often results in improved outcomes. Treatment for depression and co-occurring SUD may include:

• Medications for depression. The most widely prescribed medications for depression are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as: Fluoxetine (Prozac),¹⁷ Citalopram (Celexa),¹⁸ Sertraline (Zoloft).¹⁹ These drugs correct chemical imbalances by increasing the level of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects mood, to the brain. SSRIs are now considered to be frontline pharmaceutical treatment for depression, as they have relatively mild side effects compared to older antidepressant medications.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT addresses the dysfunctional thoughts and actions that affect people with mood disorders like depression.²⁰ CBT focuses on identifying and transforming self-defeating ideas and repetitive self-talk, such as “I’m worthless,” “I’ll never feel better,” or “I might as well drink, my life is so bad.” Such negative thoughts can be replaced by more positive messages, while maladaptive coping skills can be replaced with more effective approaches to life’s stressors and triggers.
• Motivational Interviewing (MI). MI engages the patient in the recovery process through an active collaboration with the therapist, encouraging patients to identify their goals and helping them get past ambivalence toward recovery.²¹MI, as a therapeutic strategy, can be highly effective for individuals with depression, who have difficulty finding and maintaining internal sources of motivation. ²¹
• Trauma Therapies. If a history of trauma is a factor in a client’s depression or substance use, trauma therapies like Seeking Safety and eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) can help. These therapies help to reprocess troubling memories and resolve old sources of emotional pain, so the client can move on through the process of recovery and rehab.
• Family Systems Therapy. Family systems therapy treats the client’s household unit as a whole, and the diseases of depression and addiction as family problems rather than individual disorders. Therapeutic goals for families include: educating loved ones about depression and addiction, improving communication among family members, setting realistic boundaries, establishing an environment at home that supports sobriety.

Throughout substance use treatment, core interventions such as individual therapy, group therapy, 12-Step programming, and family or marriage counseling provide a stable support network and a foundation for psychological healing.

Get Help for Depression & Addiction

If you or a loved one suffers from depression and co-occurring addiction, speak to a compassionate admissions navigator at American Addiction Centers (AAC). Our treatment facilities located across the U.S. provide a full continuum of care including inpatient and outpatient treatment, medications for substance use disorder, treatment for co-occurring disorders, and more.

You can also verify your insurance using the confidential tool below.