Research Paper on "Substance Abuse Associated With Depression"

Research Paper 9 pages (3252 words) Sources: 8 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

This also signifies the fact that severity in one disorder will definitely lead to the intensity in other. The empirical research studies have also highlighted the reality that the prevalence rate for depressive disorder is much higher for the people who are diagnosed with substance abuse, in comparison to the population not involved in substance abuse to such extent (Kilpatrick, Ruggiero, Acierno, Saunders, Resnick & Best, 2003).

The results of numerous investigations on a broad spectrum have elucidated the fact that the severity of depressive symptoms is closely associated with the intensity of substance abuse and its dependence. This means that if the addiction of substance abuse amongst the individuals is reduced, they will exhibit clear and improved symptoms of depression.

Effect of Substance Abuse on Depression

Substance abuse has a close and direct impact on the mental disorder of depression and comorbidity with depression. In fact, the studies have concluded that the syndrome of depression is more common amongst the individuals who are likely to consume substance abuse at a young age. More severe depressive symptoms have been monitored amongst the individuals who consume substance abuse in much higher quantities when compared to other population groups. This means that the increased level of dependence upon substance abuse leads to more negative effects on mental illness of depression (Levy & Deykin, 1989).

Extensive studies have brought the fact on the surface that substance abuse directly affects the brain functioning of the individuals. Substance abuse like marijuana not only decelerates the functioning of the brain but also weakens the cognitive abilities of the individuals, due to which they are likely to suffer from the disorder of severe depression. Other substance abuse like cocaine leads the individuals to experience depression at the time when they come off its experiences, because when the drug is intoxicated, it results in high moods. The examples have explicated the fact that all substance abuse leads to depression; however, the only difference is that some substance abuse lead the individuals to suffer from depression during the time of intoxication, while others make people suffer during the withdrawal period (Pettinati & Dundon, 2011).

Alcohol is another substance abuse that is closely related with high rates of depression, because it has mood-depressant effects especially when consumed in large quantities. As an outcome of it, the individual's depressed mood is deteriorated to a large extent. Depression has also been examined as a common mental disorder amongst the individuals using the substance abuse opioid. Results of various investigations have brought the same fact to the forefront that users consuming opioid to a higher level typically result in severe depression (Ostacher, 2007).

Several epidemiologic survey studies have apparently demonstrated the fact that people involved in substance abuse are most commonly reflecting depressed mood with other mental disorders as major depressive episodes amongst the common symptoms. This indicates the notion that substance abuse creates negative impact on the comorbidity with depression syndromes. Due to this reason, comorbidity has been a major component of the research studies so that effective diagnosis and treatment can be determined as the ultimate outcome to overcome such issues related to mental disorders (Levy & Deykin, 1989).

On an overall basis, the high prevalence of comorbidity with depression has been revealed as the outcome of substance abuse amongst the people on a national level from a number of studies. Data has clearly exhibited that individuals diagnosed with increased level of depression are either more likely to be involved in substance abuse or have a greater level of dependence on substance abuse in contrast to the respondents in general (Levy & Deykin, 1989).

Outcome of Comorbid Depression and Substance Abuse Treatment

Comorbidity of mental disorders (specifically severe depression) and substance abuse have been reported as common and widespread issues with significant impact on the health care of the individuals. Due to this reason, the treatment process (preventive programs or the service delivery) is imperative to take into account, as it largely affects the incidence of such problems and lead the individuals to have a healthy and normal life (Pettinati & Dundon, 2011).

It has been widely observed from various sources that clinicians, at most of the time, find it rather more difficult as well as challenging to treat the patients with comorbid depression especially when they are comprehensively dependent upon substance abuse. This is particularly due to the reason that the clinicians are not sure whether symptoms of comorbidity with depression is the primary issue of the patient or substance abuse is the core problem, and hence, they find it more complex to perform the treatment process (Ostacher, 2007).

However, with respect to the outcome of comorbid depression and substance abuse treatment, it has been examined from few research investigations that antidepressants are predominantly one of the effective approaches of treatment. This means that antidepressants have resulted in improved behavioral traits amongst the people involved in substance abuse (like alcohol) and severe depression. Indeed, this treatment process has decreased the substance abuse consumption amongst many patients, which has even reflected with decreased symptoms of comorbid depression. Empirical studies have also highlighted the piece of information that pharmacotherapy is another effective approach of treatment that results in decreased rates of depression once patients (who are dependent upon substance abuse like opioid) enter this treatment process (Ostacher, 2007).

The outcomes of substance abuse and comorbid depression treatment have also revealed the fact that young adult suffering from depression response to the treatment process in a more positive manner when they are reported with lower levels of impairment caused by substance abuse like alcohol. In contrast, the teens diagnosed with comorbid depression are less likely to response positively to the treatment in case with higher levels of substance-related impairment. This analysis has been brought forward by research studies that focused on depressed adolescents involved in substance abuse (Pettinati & Dundon, 2011).

From some of the studies, the fact has come into the limelight that when the patient undergoes the treatment of substance abuse, he or she is likely to demonstrate abstinence from substance abuse like alcohol. This abstinence from drugs has a direct impact on the depressive symptoms, which are removed or alleviated to a great extent amongst the patients. In this regard, motivational techniques of counseling prove to be an effective approach, as it merely promotes and stimulates the depressed individuals to undergo the treatment for their substance abuse and comorbid depression disorders. In this manner, the depressed patients when treated for their comorbid depression results in improved effect for both disorders (Pettinati & Dundon, 2011).

According to some schools of thoughts, the patients suffering from comorbid depression and substance abuse should undergo the treatment process for both of the disorders. This is imperative because if the individual would be treated for only one disorder, it is less likely that the patient would recover to the normal health condition. Therefore, it is vital for the individual to go through the treatment for both disorders in order to achieve a good chance of complete recovery to normal (Brown, Monti, Myers, Martin, Rivinus, Dubreuil & Rohsenow, 1998).

This can be well elucidated from one of the research studies that represented significant drop rate in depressive symptoms amongst the patients with alcohol dependence that went through the treatment program for only one disorder (that was alcohol abstention). However, it was observed that many of the patients discontinued their outpatient treatment, since they were facing issues with alcohol abstention. This means that with increased level of depression that was left untouched during the treatment process, these individuals continued their dependence upon alcohol, which only worsened (Brown, Monti, Myers, Martin, Rivinus, Dubreuil & Rohsenow, 1998).

Quite a few studies have highlighted the information that integrated treatment has provided evidences with productive outcomes amongst individuals diagnosed with comorbid depression and substance abuse. This is particularly due to the reason that integrated treatment practices the healing therapy for both the disorders concurrently. After detoxification on the substance abuse, a dual treatment process is initiated that is typically based on various healing processes like therapies, antidepressants, and interactive sessions with a support group. This has evidenced in much more positive and superior outcomes amongst the other approaches (Brown, Monti, Myers, Martin, Rivinus, Dubreuil & Rohsenow, 1998).

From a few sources, it has been analyzed that positive outcomes in substance abuse and comorbid depression treatment are based on several factors apart from the healing process. These factors particularly include the kind and timing of the medication as well as psychosocial interventions essential for the treatment of both disorders, a strong relationship between the doctor and patient, attention being made to the treatment compliance, and comprehensive commitment in curing both the disorders (Ostacher, 2007).

On an overall basis, it can be well stated that the comorbid depression and substance abuse treatment leads to a positive outcome on the health patterns of the individual. The depressed person exhibits optimistic personality with… READ MORE

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