Abstract
Depression and Alcoholism are common disabling conditions and are associated with high suicidal risk. The
present study was conducted at Vidya Sagar Department of Psychiatry, PGIMS, Rohtak (Haryana). Patients,
each of severe depression (n = 30) and alcohol dependence (n = 30) as per ICD-10 were evaluated on Disability
Assessment Schedule, Suicide Risk Estimator Scale, Defense Style Questionnaire and Hamilton Depression
Rating Scale. The two groups were compared on these parameters. Alcohol group had significantly higher
number of men, married and rural patients, than the depressive group. Depressive group showed higher
disability and suicidal risk. However, striking similarities in the socio-demographic variables and coping
strategies may be indicative of the common etiological link between these disorders.
