The combination of depression and alcohol dependence is a common co-occurring condition. Under such conditions, it is vital to diagnose and treat both disorders because one problem can aggravate the other. Only limited studies are available that support the benefits of using medicines to treat both conditions simultaneously. A study by Helen M.Pettinati and colleagues published in the American Journal of Psychiatry has evaluated the benefits of simultaneously administering two FDA-approved drugs, sertraline for depression and naltrexone for alcohol dependence.
In the study, 170 patients with a dual diagnosis of depression and alcohol dependence participated. They were randomly divided into four groups of nearly similar size. The first group was treated with both sertraline and naltrexone. The second group was treated with naltrexone and a placebo, the third with Sertraline and a placebo, and the fourth with two placebos. All the groups were treated for 14 weeks. Weekly cognitive behavioral therapy was continued.
At the end of the therapy, the first group that received treatment with both drugs achieved significantly positive outcomes compared to the other groups. The summary of the results are as follows:
This study concludes that the simultaneous administration of medicines, specifically sertraline and naltrexone, to treat co-occurring alcohol dependence and depression could lead to prolonged abstinence, delayed relapse, fewer adverse events, and less depressive symptoms.
Pettinati, H.M., Oslin, D.W., Kampman, K.M., Dundon, W.D., Xie, H., Gallis, T.L., Dackis, C.A. and O'Brien, C.P., 2010. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial combining sertraline and naltrexone for treating co-occurring depression and alcohol dependence. American Journal of Psychiatry, 167(6), pp.668-675.