Researchers link depression to alcohol

Soju is Korea's traditional distilled liquor / Korea Times file

More than half of patients with depression drink more than two bottles of soju, Korea’s traditional distilled liquor, every week, a study shows.

Researchers at Hanyang University and Yongin Mental Hospital examined the drinking habits of 402 depressed patients aged 19 and over.

The results showed that 51 percent of the participants were drinking excessively enough to get in the way of treating their depression, the researchers said Wednesday.

The World Health Organization classifies men who drink more than four glasses of soju - equivalent of 40 grams of alcohol - as “hazardous drinkers.” Women who drink two glasses of soju are categorized as hazardous drinkers.

Various factors - smoking, weight loss and thoughts of suicide - also had a correlation to heavy drinking, according to the study.