Abstract
Our aim was to clarify the role of alcohol and other drug (AOD) use in major depression among gay men attending general medical
practices. A secondary analysis was conducted on survey data collected from 531 gay men attending high-HIV-caseload general
practices in Adelaide and Sydney, Australia. The survey contained demographic, social, behavioural and AOD variables. Participants
were classified into those with (n = 130) and without major depression (n = 401) using the PHQ-9 screening tool. Although rates of drug use were very high in the sample, multivariate logistic regression
analysis showed that the majority of variables independently associated with major depression were social and behavioural
factors. Only one AOD variable was associated with major depression: the use of three or more drug types in the past 6 months.
Attending to specific patterns of AOD use may assist in the identification of gay men most at risk of major depression.
practices. A secondary analysis was conducted on survey data collected from 531 gay men attending high-HIV-caseload general
practices in Adelaide and Sydney, Australia. The survey contained demographic, social, behavioural and AOD variables. Participants
were classified into those with (n = 130) and without major depression (n = 401) using the PHQ-9 screening tool. Although rates of drug use were very high in the sample, multivariate logistic regression
analysis showed that the majority of variables independently associated with major depression were social and behavioural
factors. Only one AOD variable was associated with major depression: the use of three or more drug types in the past 6 months.
Attending to specific patterns of AOD use may assist in the identification of gay men most at risk of major depression.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s11469-011-9330-9
- Authors
- Martin Holt, National Centre in HIV Social Research, Level 2, Robert Webster building, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia
- Joanne Bryant, National Centre in HIV Social Research, Level 2, Robert Webster building, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia
- Christy E. Newman, National Centre in HIV Social Research, Level 2, Robert Webster building, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia
- Dana M. Paquette, National Centre in HIV Social Research, Level 2, Robert Webster building, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia
- Limin Mao, National Centre in HIV Social Research, Level 2, Robert Webster building, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia
- Michael R. Kidd, Faculty of Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
- Deborah C. Saltman, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Southern Cross University, Lismore, Australia
- Susan C. Kippax, Social Policy Research Centre, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Journal International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
- Online ISSN 1557-1882
- Print ISSN 1557-1874