PSYCHIATRIC CO-MORBIDITY, SUICIDAL-BEHAVIOR AND SUICIDAL IDEATION IN ALCOHOLICS SEEKING TREATMENT

Aims. To estimate the impact of co-morbid disorbers for suicidal ideas in alcohol-dependent subjects seeking treatment. Design. Life-time ps ychiatric co-morbidity and previous suicidal behaviours were assessed retrospectively after detoxification (t1). In addition, suicidal behav iours were assessed 12 months after discharge (t2). Setting. Art inpat ient detoxification treatment unit. Participants. Two hundred and fift y dependent inpatients were studied after detoxification. One hundred and fory-nine of them participated in the follow-zip face-to-fare inte rview. Measurements. Using two extended standardized interviews (CIDI and IPDE) psychiatric co-morbidity (DSM-III-R, Axes I and II) was asse ssed at t1; suicide attempts were reported at t1 and t2, and suicidal ideas were assessed at t2. Findings. A history of suicide attempts was reported by 29.2% at t1, and suicidal ideas by 14.1 % and suicide att empts by 5.4% at the follow-up (t2). One female patient committed suic ide within 6 months of discharge from hospital. The following co-morbi dity patterns were associated with the greatest risk for suicidal idea s. Anxiety and depressive disorders, Axes I and II disorders, and a hi story of suicide attempt (for suicidal ideas at (t2). Conclusions. Our results underline the importance of psychiatric co-morbidity for the suicidal risk in alcohol-dependent patients, while alcoholism itself a ppears to be only a moderate risk factor.