HOPELESSNESS, IMPULSIVENESS AND INTENT AMONG SUICIDE ATTEMPTERS WITH MAJOR DEPRESSION, ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE, OR BOTH

The present study examined differences in hopelessness, impulsiveness and suicide intent between suicide attempters with either major depres sion or alcohol dependence, comorbid major depression and alcohol depe ndence, and those without these disorders. A sample of 114 patients fr om consecutive cases of attempted suicide referred to a general hospit al in Helsinki was interviewed and diagnosed according to DSM-III-R. S uicide intent was measured by the Beck Suicide Intent Scale (SIS) and hopelessness was assessed by the Beck Hopelessness Scale (HS). Impulsi veness of the suicide attempt was measured by two items of the SIS. Su icide attempters with major depression without comorbid alcohol depend ence had higher suicide intent and lower impulsiveness than attempters with non-depressive alcohol dependence. Suicide attempts may differ b etween subjects with major depression, alcoholism or both disorders in terms of impulsiveness and suicide intent.