People who don't drink alcohol are more likely to have depression than those who do, according to a new study.

The study was based on data from more than 38,000 people in Norway.

Those who said that they had not had a drink in two weeks more likely than moderate drinkers to report symptoms of depression, according to a news release on the work.

People who called themselves abstainers were at the highest risk of depression.

Other factors, such as age, physical health problems and number of close friends could explain some but not all of this increased risk.

The authors said that in societies where some use of alcohol is the norm, abstinence may be associated with being socially marginalized or with personality traits that may also be associated with mental illness.

The study also noted that alcohol use, especially use, is associated with many other health problems.