Findings reveal parallel results for alcohol consumption, depression screens completed in primary care<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/b><\/p>\n
TUESDAY, July 18, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Changes in alcohol consumption screens completed in routine care are associated with parallel changes in depression screening results, according to a study published online June 16 in Alcohol: Clinical & Experimental Research<\/em>.<\/p>\n Kevin A. Hallgren, Ph.D., from the University of Washington in Seattle, and colleagues examined associations between changes in Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption version (AUDIT-C) scores and changes in depression symptoms captured in brief screens completed in routine care. The analysis included 198,335 primary care patients who completed two AUDIT-C screens and Patient Health Questionnaire-2 depression screens 11 to 24 months apart.<\/p>\n The researchers found that subgroups with increases in AUDIT-C risk categories generally experienced increases in the prevalence of positive depression screens (risk ratios ranging from 0.95 to 2.00). Decreases in AUDIT-C risk categories were generally associated with decreases in the prevalence of positive depression screens (risk ratios ranging from 0.52 to 1.01). Similarly, patient subgroups with no changes in AUDIT-C risk categories experienced little or no change in the prevalence of positive depression screens (risk ratios ranging from 0.98 to 1.15).<\/p>\n “As hypothesized, changes in alcohol consumption reported on AUDIT-C screens completed in routine care were associated with changes in depression screening results,” the authors write. “Results support the validity and clinical utility of monitoring changes in AUDIT-C scores over time as a meaningful measure of changes in drinking.”<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n <\/i><\/p>\n