At an initial (index) evaluation and during a 6-year followup, alcohol misuse and depression, although both highly prevalent, were unrelated. Alcohol misusing and nonmisusing depressives had similar rates of treatment for depression. Followup alcohol misuse, occurring in a fourth of those reinterviewed, was not predicted by an index history of depression even among index alcohol misusers. Nonsignificant trends did suggest some association between the two symptom groups. Depressive subjects with a history of alcohol misuse had a greater rate of depression during followup than nonmisusing index depressives. Followup misusers had a greater rate of followup depression than nonmisusers. Alcohol-related depression could not be discounted simply as a consequence of alcohol misuse. The relative independence of alcohol misuse and depression underscores the complexity of their interaction, especially in a population with multiple disorders such as women criminals. 26 references. (Author abstract modified)