Problem drinking and comorbidity with mental ill health

Problem drinking in healthcare workers is highly relevant to study as it could result in personal suffering, as well as inefficiencies in health service delivery. A study investigated the prevalence of nondrinking, drinking, and problem drinking and explored the comorbidity between drinking alcohol and mental illness (burnout and depression) among healthcare workers in Sweden
The cross-sectional study used data from the 2022 Longitudinal Occupational Health survey in Healthcare Sweden of physicians, nurses, and nurse assistants in Sweden (N = 5966). Measures include levels of alcohol use assessed by the Cut, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye Opener questionnaire, the 12-item Burnout Assessment Tool, and the Symptom CheckList–Core Depression. The likelihood of reporting nondrinking and problem drinking compared to drinking was assessed.
The prevalence of problem drinking among Swedish healthcare workers was 3.7%. Only sex differences were observed for those with a problem drinking, with male nurses and nurse assistants being more likely to report problem drinking. Comorbidity was found between problem drinking and depression but not between problem drinking and burnout.
This study demonstrated that ~3.7% of Swedish healthcare workers had problem drinking and that those also had a higher likelihood of reporting depression but not burnout. Results contribute to new knowledge about the use of alcohol and comorbidities with depression and burnout among healthcare workers in Sweden. Findings could benefit employers in implementing preventive and tailored strategies to preserve the psychosocial well-being of healthcare workers.
Source: Josefina Peláez-Zuberbuhler, Emelie Thern, Håvard R Karlsen, Siw Tone Innstrand, Marit Christensen, Bodil J Landstad, Devy L Elling, Malin Sjöström, Emma Brulin, Problem drinking and comorbidity with mental ill health: a cross-sectional study among healthcare workers in Sweden, Alcohol and Alcoholism, Volume 60, Issue 3, May 2025,