title: Predictors and correlates of suicide attempts over 5 years in 1,237 alcohol-dependent men and women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In previous studies, factors related to a history of suicide attempts in persons with alcohol dependence have included sociodemographic variables, a more severe course of alcoholism, additional substance use disorders, and psychiatric comorbidity. This 5-year prospective study evaluated attributes associated with suicide attempts in a group of treatment-seeking persons with alcohol dependence. Psychiatric comorbidity was examined in terms of a distinction between substance-induced and independent psychiatric disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semistructured interviews were conducted with 1,237 alcohol-dependent subjects from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism both at an initial evaluation and at a 5-year follow-up. Clinically relevant information was gathered at baseline, and suicidal behavior, aspects of alcohol dependence, and drug use were evaluated at the follow-up interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alcohol-dependent subjects (N=56) with suicide attempts during the follow-up period were more likely than subjects with no suicide attempts (N=1,181) to have made prior attempts. Other factors related to future suicide attempts in univariate analyses included younger age, being separated or divorced, other drug dependence, substance-induced psychiatric disorders, and indicators of a more severe course of alcoholism. Gender did not predict future attempts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 5-year prospective evaluation of attributes associated with suicide attempts among alcohol-dependent persons identified factors that contributed to a small but significant proportion of the variance for future suicidal behavior.
authors.affiliation: VA San Diego Healthcare System and the University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Ulrich W
authors.initials: UW
authors.lastname: Preuss
authors.forename: Marc A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Schuckit
authors.forename: Tom L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: George P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Danko
authors.forename: Kathleen K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Bucholz
authors.forename: Michie N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Hesselbrock
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hesselbrock
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kramer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data