This study was undertaken to clarify the relationship between alcoholism and depression by means of the personality traits interpersonal dependency and self-esteem. In a sample of 52 alcoholics that met Feighner's criteria for primary alcoholism, the subjects were assessed by means of the Zung Depression Self-rating Scale, the Hirschfeld Interpersonal Dependency Scale and the 23-item version of the Janis & Field Self-esteem Scale by Rimée & Leyens. By means of the score on the Zung scale the subjects were divided into depressive vs. non-depressive alcoholics. There were no intergroup differences in interpersonal dependency. However, the depressive alcoholics scored significantly lower on the self-esteem scale. The authors suggest that the level of self-esteem in alcoholics is a function of secondary depression, whereas the interpersonal dependency might be influenced by the pathological drinking pattern.