Interpersonal stressors, substance abuse, and suicide.
In contrast to suicide in depression, suicide associated with alcoholism and substance dependence may be preceded more often by interpersonal loss and conflict 6 weeks prior to death. We used psychological autopsy methodology in an effort to clarify and extend these findings using a more comprehensive typology of interpersonal stressors. Subjects included 57 suicide victims with diagnoses of alcohol/substance dependence (A/SD; N = 30) and mood/anxiety disorders (M/AD; N = 27). Consistent with previous studies, a substantial majority of the A/SD suicide victims were confronted with interpersonal stressors in the 6 weeks prior to death. Our investigation extends previous findings by indicating that a) A/SD suicide victims are confronted with a broader range of interpersonal stressors than M/AD suicide completers and b) the types of interpersonal stressors experienced by A/SD subjects in the weeks prior to suicide involve conflicts/arguments and attachment disruptions.
Duberstein
P R
PR
University of Rochester-NIMH Clinical Research Center for the Study of Psychopathology of the Elderly, New York.
Conwell
Y
Y
Caine
E D
ED
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D003643:Death; D004243:Divorce; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*