[Alcohol intoxication and suicidality].

OBJECTIVE

Although there is a rich literature showing that addictive disorders are important risk factors for suicide, corresponding studies on suicidal behavior are rare. This study was aimed to evaluate the impact of alcohol intoxication on suicidal behavior.

METHODS

Prospective study. All patients admitted to a psychiatric department providing the psychiatric services for a district of Berlin (250,000 inhabitants) within 15 month.

RESULTS

Within this period 184 persons were admitted after showing suicidal behaviour (n = 227 admissions). 54.3 % of them were alcohol intoxicated (BAC > 1 g/l). Apart from substance use disorders the most common diagnoses were adjustment disorders (41.0 %), followed by depressive disorders (27.3 %). 28.2 % committed a suicide attempt. All kinds of suicidal behaviour were accompanied by alcohol intoxication, particularly threatening of committing suicide. Persons admitted without alcohol ingestion frequently suffered from depression or schizophrenia.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that persons showing the suicidal behaviour were frequently alcohol intoxicated.