Violence related injuries in the emergency room: alcohol, depression, and conduct problems.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to obtain epidemiological measures of the association between alcohol consumption and emergency room (ER) attendance due to violence, compared to the general population in the city of Pachuca, Mexico, during October-November, 1996 and June-July, 1997.


METHODS
The study was a population-based case-control design.


METHODS
Data consisted of an interviewer-administered questionnaire, collected on a 24-h basis, during the entire week.


METHODS
Cases were 127 patients (78% male) admitted to the ER because of an injury that was the result of violence (being in a fight or being attacked by someone). A sample of residents from Pachuca (n = 920) was the comparison group.


RESULTS
Patients reporting drinking within 6h compared to nondrinkers were more likely to suffer a violence-related injury [34.0 (17.5-66.2)] and alcohol dependent patients were more likely to be involved in a violence-related injury [7.4 (3.5-15.6)] compared to noncurrent drinkers. When both alcohol prior and alcohol dependence were considered simultaneously in multiple models among current drinkers, patients with violence-related injuries were more likely to report alcohol prior but not to be positive for alcohol dependence. Depressive symptoms, but not conduct problem behavior, were also associated with violent injury in simultaneous regressions that included alcohol variables.


CONCLUSIONS
In the city of Pachuca, Mexico, a large relationship between drinking prior to the event and violence-related injury, regardless of alcohol dependence, was found. Depression was also related to violence, suggesting the need for more comprehensive intervention with these patients.
Borges
G
G
Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente, México, DF, México. guibor@imp.edu.mx
Cherpitel
C J
CJ
Medina-Mora
M E
ME
Mondragón
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000150:complications*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*