SUICIDE RISK AND VIOLENCE RISK IN ALCOHOLICS - PREDICTORS OF AGGRESSIVE RISK

The purposes of the study were: a) to examine whether risk for suicide and risk for violence were positively or negatively correlated; and b ) to investigate potential predictors/mediators of suicide risk alone, violence risk alone, and risk for both suicide and violence. Suicide risk and violence risk were considered outcome variables. The predicto r/mediator variables were eight ego defense mechanisms and 13 dysfunct ional personality styles (both have been linked to aggressive risk). S eventy-four male alcoholics were administered questionnaire measures o f suicide risk and violence risk, defenses, and disordered personality functioning. Results indicated that suicide and violence risk were si gnificantly positively correlated. Three sets of predictor/mediator va riables were identified: those predicting violence risk alone, those p redicting suicide risk alone, and those predicting combined aggressive risk (risk for both suicide and violence). Connections obtained betwe en predictor/mediator variables and outcome variables were explained i n the context of existent clinical theory.