Severity of depressive symptomatology and socio-demographic characteristics of patients with alcoholism in the Republic of Dagestan depending on territorial patterns of residence

Abstract

Introduction. Living in urban and rural areas can affect the risk of developing and the course of alcohol dependence and comorbid conditions. The aim of the work was to evaluate the degree of depressive symptoms and socio-demographic characteristics of patients with alcoholism in the Republic of Dagestan, depending on the territorial features of residence. Materials and methods. The study involved 104 patients aged 51.2±9.9 years (27 to 74 years), registered in the State Budgetary Institution «Republican narcological dispensary» of the Republic of Dagestan with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence. The patients were divided into 2 groups depending on the territorial features of their residence: 62 (59.6%) patients residing in urban areas and 42 (40.4%) residing in rural areas. In order to evaluate socio-demographic characteristics all patients were questioned. The degree of severity of depressive symptoms was assessed with the Beck scale. Results. Analysis of alcohol dependence characteristics revealed no differences between the groups (p>0.05). The degree of depression was found to be more pronounced in patients living in rural areas than in those living in urban areas: mild depression was 7.3% and 29.0% (p<0.05), moderate depression was 9.8% and 1.6% (p<0.05), and severe depression was 39.0% and 25.8% (p<0.05), respectively. The severity of depression correlated with the presence of work in patients (r=0.324; p<0.001). Discussion. Alcohol consumption leads to a more severe manifestation of depression, contributing to physiological changes in the body. Conversely, depressed people are more prone to uncontrolled alcohol consumption, which in their subjective opinion alleviates psychosocial suffering. The connection between alcohol abuse and depressive symptoms is bidirectional, meaning that both of these disorders influence the development and course of the other and simultaneously exacerbate the risk of developing the other disorder. Conclusions. Alcohol-dependent individuals living in rural areas of the Republic of Dagestan are characterized by unemployment that correlates with anxiety-depressive symptoms, as well as a more severe degree of depression severity.