E. Ravndal et P. Vaglum, Overdoses and suicide attempts: Different relations to psychopathology andsubstance abuse? A 5-year prospective study of drug abusers, EUR ADDIC R, 5(2), 1999, pp. 63-70
Two hundred Norwegian drug abusers who consecutively applied for treatment
in a therapeutic community were interviewed at intake and personally follow
ed up on average 5 years after. Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory and Sy
mptom Checklist-90 were used to assess the clients, Frequent use of opiates
and number of months in inpatient treatment were associated with overdoses
, while being a case on the Borderline scale or depression was related to s
uicide attempts. The study shows that overdoses and suicide attempts can be
distinguished on the basis of their different psychopathological risk vari
ables and their different relationship to substances. To understand the bac
kground of these phenomena is of importance in planning preventive action t
o hinder fatal overdose and suicide.