Surprising insights into what makes alcoholics drink

In people with alcohol dependence, the major factor predicting the amount of drinking seems to be a question of immediate mood, say researchers.

The US scientists found that having long-term mental health problems did not affect alcohol consumption, with one important exception: men with a history of depression had a different drinking pattern than men without a history of depression.

Surprisingly, men with depression were drinking less often than men who were not depressed

"This work once again shows that alcoholism is not a one-size-fits-all condition," lead researcher