Search resultsGender differences in the relationships between alcohol, tobacco and mental health in patients attending an emergency department
Title
Gender differences in the relationships between alcohol, tobacco and mental health in patients attending an emergency department
Publication type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2004
Authors
Journal
Alcohol and Alcoholism
Volume
39
Issue
5
Pagination
463 - 469
Date published
2004
ISBN
07350414 (ISSN)
Keywords
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, alcohol consumption, Alcoholism, anxiety, article, Australia, comorbidity, controlled study, Cross-Sectional Studies, demography, Depression, Emergency Services, Psychiatric, emergency ward, Female, Hospitals, human, Humans, Interview, male, mental health, Middle Aged, Nicotiana tabacum, priority journal, psychologic test, Questionnaires, sex difference, tobacco, Tobacco Use Disorder
Abstract
Aims: There is evidence of a non-linear relationship between alcohol consumption and mental health status, and of an association between tobacco use and poor mental health. This paper examines the nature of the association between usual alcohol consumption, tobacco use and symptoms of anxiety and depression in Emergency Department patients in Queensland, Australia. Methods: A cross sectional survey of patients aged 16-84 presenting for treatment over a 14 day period to Gold Coast Hospital Emergency Department using socio-demographic items, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) to measure moderate, hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to measure state anxiety and depression. Results: 812 patients were interviewed. Gender differences in results were evident. For men, there was a U-shaped relationship between alcohol consumption and anxiety/depression, and a linear association between smoking and anxiety. For women, alcohol consumption and anxiety/depression showed a more linear relationship, but there was no significant relationship between tobacco use and anxiety/depression. Conclusions: There may be important gender differences in the relationships between alcohol consumption, tobacco use and mental health status. This study supports previous evidence that mental health status of non-drinkers is worse than that of moderate drinkers, but only among males.