title: Psychiatric co-morbidity, suicidal behaviour and suicidal ideation in alcoholics seeking treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the impact of co-morbid disorders for suicidal ideas in alcohol-dependent subjects seeking treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Life-time psychiatric co-morbidity and previous suicidal behaviours were assessed retrospectively after detoxification (t1). In addition, suicidal behaviours were assessed 12 months after discharge (t2).
  
  
  METHODS
  An inpatient detoxification treatment unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and fifty dependent inpatients were studied after detoxification. One hundred and forty-nine of them participated in the follow-up face-to-face interviews.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using two extended standardized interviews (CIDI and IPDE) psychiatric co-morbidity (DSM-III-R, Axes I and II) was assessed at t1; suicide attempts were reported at t1 and t2, and suicidal ideas were assessed at t2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A history of suicide attempts was reported by 29.2% at t1, and suicidal ideas by 14.1% and suicide attempts by 5.4% at the follow-up (t2). One female patient committed suicide within 6 months of discharge from hospital. The following co-morbidity patterns were associated with the greatest risk for suicidal ideas. Anxiety and depressive disorders, Axes I and 11 disorders, and a history of suicide attempt (for suicidal ideas at (t2). CONCLUSION. Our results underline the importance of psychiatric co-morbidity for the suicidal risk in alcohol-dependent patients, while alcoholism itself appears to be only a moderate risk factor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Lübeck School of Medicine, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Driessen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Veltrup
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wetterling
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dilling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*