Depression Among Alcoholics: Relationship to Clinical and Cerebrospinal Fluid Variables

Tested the hypotheses that depressed alcoholic adults (N=228), compared with non-depressed alcoholic adults (N=111), would show differences on both clinical & cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) variables, & that depressed Ss would have lower CSF concentrations of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Both hypotheses were confirmed. Depressed Ss had a greater daily intake of alcohol, a history of other drug abuse & more had attempted suicide. Male depressed Ss had significantly lower CSF concentrations of GABA.