Volume 38 · Number 11
NOVEMBER 2008

Psychiatric Risk Factors for Suicide in the Alcohol-dependent Patient

By Kenneth R. Conner, PsyD, MPH; Michael S. McCloskey, PhD; Paul R. Duberstein, PhD

Suicide is a serious public health concern. In 2004, more than 32,000 individuals died by suicide in the United States, exceeding the number of deaths by homicide that year. This number represents only a small portion (about 5%) of suicide attempts, many of which result in hospitalization and/or disability. Overall, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States and is the second leading cause of death among young adults. Thus, the need for improved efforts at suicide prevention is clear. Effective suicide prevention requires risk-identification and intervention strategies specifically tailored to high-risk populations. A wealth of data indicates that individuals with alcohol dependence are such a population. A meta-analysis concluded that individuals with alcohol dependence identified through treatment venues are at 9.8 (9.0-10.7) times greater risk for suicide compared to the general population. Furthermore, U.S. national survey data shows that alcohol dependence confers 6.5 (3.6-11.5) times greater risk for attempted suicide compared to individuals without alcohol dependence. Unequivocally, suicide prevention efforts must focus on alcoholism.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Kenneth R. Conner, PsyD, MPH; and Paul R. Duberstein, PhD, are with the Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide and Laboratory of Personality and Development, Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York. Michael S. McCloskey, PhD is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago.

Address correspondence to: Michael McCloskey, Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave MC #3077, Chicago, IL 60637. mmcclosk@yoda.bsd.uchicago.edu.

Dr. Conner, Dr. Duberstein, and Dr. McCloskey have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.