The role of alcohol-induced blackouts in symptoms of depression among young adults. (1st June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Miller, Mary Beth; DiBello, Angelo M.; Merrill, Jennifer E.; Neighbors, Clayton; Carey, Kate B.
• Is Part Of: Drug and alcohol dependence. Volume 211(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-06-01
• Subjects: Drinking -- Depression -- Alcohol-related consequences -- College students -- Mental health; Drug abuse -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108027
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0376-8716

Abstract

Highlights: Blackouts are associated with other types of alcohol problems. In turn, alcohol problems are associated with symptoms of depression. Alcohol problems mediate the association between blackouts and depressive symptoms. Blackouts may be an important treatment target for heavy drinking. Abstract: Objective: Blackouts are associated with other alcohol-related consequences and depression among young adults, but the mechanisms underlying these associations are unclear. Using two separate samples, we tested the hypothesis that blackouts would be linked to symptoms of depression due in part to their association with other alcohol-related consequences. Method: Young adults who use alcohol completed assessments at baseline in Sample 1 ( N 1 = 381, 58% female) and baseline, 3 months, and 6 months in Sample 2 ( N 2 = 603, 53 % female). Bootstrapped confidence intervals were used to examine the direct and indirect effects of blackouts on depressive symptoms, using cross-sectional mediation analysis in Sample 1 and a counterfactual approach with longitudinal data in Sample 2. Results: In both samples, alcohol-induced blackouts were associated with alcohol-related consequences, which in turn were associated with symptoms of depression. In Sample 1, blackouts had both direct and indirect (mediated) effects on depressive symptoms. In Sample 2, blackouts measured at baseline only had an indirect effect on depressive symptoms six months later through other alcohol-related consequences at three months. Conclusions: Among heavy-drinking college students, the majority of whom reported minimal symptoms of depression, blackouts were associated with increases in other alcohol-related consequences, which in turn were associated with increases in symptoms of depression. These findings suggest that prevention and intervention efforts targeting blackouts may help reduce other alcohol-related consequences among young adults.