Treatment received by alcohol-dependent suicide attempters

The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical features of alcohol-d ependent suicide attempters and the treatment they received before and afte r the index attempt. A total of 47 subjects with current DSM-III-R alcohol dependence were identified from a systematic sample of 114 suicide attempte rs in Helsinki. All of them were comprehensively interviewed after the atte mpt. and the treatment they had received was established from psychiatric a nd other health-care records and follow-up interviews. Most had a history o f psychiatric (83%) or substance abuse (83%) treatment. During the final mo nth before the attempt, half of the subjects (51%) had been treated by heal th care services; 11% had received disulfiram-treatment and 6% had received psychotherapy. Subjects complied with recommended aftercare more often whe n they had been actively referred. After 1 month, 64% were being treated by health care services. However, only 14% were receiving disulfiram-treatmen t and 9% were receiving psychotherapy. These findings suggest that the qual ity and activity of treatment offered to suicide attempters with alcohol de pendence should be improved.