Irish researchers say that programs designed to meet the specific needs of depressed and bipolar alcoholics can effectively improve mood and lower craving and alcohol consumption, MedWire News reported Feb. 8.

Researchers Conor Farren and Sharon McElroy of St. Patrick's Hospital in Dublin tested an inpatient treatment program for dually diagnosed patients, tracking 226 patients at admission, discharge, and three and six months after discharge. They found that the specialized program reduced drinking days and average drinking amount per day among both depressed and bipolar alcoholics. Among depressed patients, the abstinence rate was 71 percent at three months post-discharge and 55.8 percent at six months. Among the bipolar group, abstinence rates were 64.7 percent at three months and 54.1 percent at six months.

"This study found evidence of treatment efficacy for an inpatient integrated dual diagnosis program, with both depressed and bipolar alcoholics having significant diminution in their affective and alcohol outcomes on 3-month follow-up, with improvements being maintained at 6-month follow-up," the researchers wrote.

The study was published in the March 2008 issue of the Journal of Affective Disorders.