Relation of family history of suicide to suicide attempts in alcoholics.
OBJECTIVE
This study was an examination of whether a family history of suicide is associated with attempts at suicide among alcoholics.


METHODS
A consecutive series of 333 alcoholics were interviewed about whether or not they had ever attempted suicide and about their family history of suicide.


RESULTS
Compared with alcoholics who had never attempted suicide, significantly more of the alcoholics who had attempted suicide reported that a first- or second-degree relative had committed suicide.


CONCLUSIONS
A family history of suicide may indicate that an alcoholic has a higher risk of attempting suicide.
Roy
A
A
Psychiatry Service, Department of Veteran Affairs, New Jersey Healthcare System, East Orange, 07019, USA. alec.roy@med.va.gov
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data