Alcohol abstainers found to be low on spirits
16 October 2009
While everyone is increasingly aware of the harmful health outcomes from excessive alcohol consumption, evidence is now accumulating that abstinence may also have health consequences.
Based on a study of the drinking habits and mental health status of 38,000 individuals, Norwegian researchers have found that teetotallers are at greater risk of developing depression compared with moderate drinkers (Addiction 2009; 104: 1519-29).
While other factors such as age, physical health status and the number of close friends a person had could account for some of this effect, it did not explain all of the increased risk, the authors said.
Another factor was that 14 per cent of current abstainers had previously been heavy drinkers, the authors said, although again this did not account for the increased risk of depression among teetotallers.
They said abstinence might be associated with being or feeling socially marginalised in societies that accepted the use of alcohol, or people with particular personality traits might be predisposed to both mental illness and abstinence.
Last Reviewed: 16 October 2009
- 1. Skogen JC, Harvey SB, Henderson M, Stordal E, Mykletun A. Anxiety and depression among abstainers and low-level alcohol consumers. The Nord-Trondelag Health Study. Addiction 2009; 104: 1519-29
