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The Role Of Alcohol Use Disorder And Alcohol Consumption In Suicide Attempts-A Secondary Analysis Of 1921 Suicide Attempts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

S. Boenisch ,
A. Bramesfeld ,
R. Mergl ,
I. Havers ,
D. Althaus ,
H. Lehfeld ,
G. Niklewski  and
U. Hegerl
S. Boenisch*
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health, University of Leipzig, Semmelweisstr. 10, 04103Leipzig, Germany
A. Bramesfeld
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health, University of Leipzig, Semmelweisstr. 10, 04103Leipzig, Germany
R. Mergl
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health, University of Leipzig, Semmelweisstr. 10, 04103Leipzig, Germany
I. Havers
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health, University of Leipzig, Semmelweisstr. 10, 04103Leipzig, Germany
D. Althaus
Affiliation:
Practice for Psychotherapy, Dachau, Germany
H. Lehfeld
Affiliation:
Hospital for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany
G. Niklewski
Affiliation:
Hospital for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany
U. Hegerl
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health, University of Leipzig, Semmelweisstr. 10, 04103Leipzig, Germany
*
*Corresponding author. Tel.: +0049-(0)341-972412; fax: +0049-(0)341-9724539. E-mail address: Stefanie.Boenisch@medizin.uni-leipzig.de (S. Boenisch).
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Abstract

Background

It is not known how characteristics of suicide attempts vary with different forms of alcohol involvement. The aim of this study is to clarify the role of alcohol use disorder and acute alcohol consumption in suicide attempts.

Methods

Data on 1921 suicide attempts was gathered in a major German city over a 5-year period. Suicide attempts were categorised according to a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder and acute alcohol consumption at the time of the attempt. Group comparisons and multinomial logistic regression were used for statistical analysis.

Results

In 331 suicide attempts (17%) an alcohol use disorder was diagnosed. Six hundred and twenty-two suicide attempts (32%) were committed with acute alcohol consumption. Suicide attempts by individuals with alcohol use disorder were more often committed by men, older individuals and as a recurrent attempt, independently of alcohol consumption at the time of the attempt. When alcohol was consumed in suicide attempts by individuals with alcohol use disorder, low-risk methods were used most often.

Conclusions

Individuals with a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder are a high-risk group for multiple suicide attempts and should be a target group for suicide prevention. Screening for suicidality should be a regular part of the clinical assessment in individuals with alcohol use disorder.

Keywords

Alcohol abuseSuicideEpidemiology
Type
Suicidology
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 25 , Issue 7 , November 2010 , pp. 414 - 420
Copyright
Copyright © Elsevier Masson SAS 2019

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