MINNEAPOLIS , Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Depression reduces the likelihood of staying sober, but does not affect the success of smoking cessation, U.S. researchers found.

The study, published in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, evaluated 462 participants for up to 1 1/2 years after they received intensive alcohol and smoking cessation treatment in an effort to get them to give up alcohol and cigarettes simultaneously. The participants had been smoking at least five cigarettes daily and all were problem drinkers.

"Among those who were depressed, the odds of drinking, the next time you checked in with them six months later were 1.5 times greater than the odds of drinking for individuals without significant depressive symptoms," lead study author Molly Kodl of the Minneapolis Veterans' Administration Medical Center said in a statement. "Depression did not significantly impact the odds of succeeding in quitting smoking in this study.

"Treating depression may help people recover from alcohol use problems, although more research is needed on this topic," Kodl suggested.