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Clinical features of alcoholic suicide attempters/non-attempters

Fleming Nuffield Unit, Burdon Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne

Keith Gaskell, Consultant Psychiatrist

Lancaster Moor Hospital, Lancaster

^* Correspondence: Dr Meena Agarwal, 46 Larkhill Cottages, Old Langho, Blackburn BB6 8AR

A cross-sectional study of 74 consecutive alcoholic patients admitted to a subregional alcohol treatment unit examines the socio-demographic and clinical differences between those who had/had not attempted suicide, and investigates their relationships to current suicidal ideation. The suicide attempters were significantly younger, separated and unemployed. They began regular drinking earlier, were more severely dependent and had a higher proportion of major depression, antisocial personality disorder and another drug abuse. The results suggest a high incidence of suicidal behaviour in alcoholics and high psychiatric comorbidity in alcoholics who attempt suicide.