[Distal antecedents and sociodemographic characteristics of suicidal attempts among alcoholics seeking treatment].
The correlation between being a subject to physical abuse in childhood and violent and suicidal behaviour in adulthood has long been proved. The present research was aimed at answering the question whether an abuse event suffered in childhood creates a tendency to aggressive and suicidal behaviour in adulthood, and whether a correlation exists between these two forms of behaviour. The study sample consisted of 235 clinically treated alcoholics. The instruments used for the investigation were the European Addiction Severity Index (EuropASI), the Buss and Perry Aggression Questionnaire, and the Janus Questionnaire. The most important findings suggest that persons who were physically abused in childhood by their parents were more likely to strike or beat someone in the course of their lives (Chi(2) =9.79, p<0.001). Within the most aggressive group, 18 % had not suffered physical abuse in childhood, while 81% had been abused (Chi(2) =13.25, p<0.001). If the subject had been physically abused, struck or beaten, that person later in his life also abused, struck or beat someone (Pearson r=.397). Physical abuse in childhood perpetrated by parents shows a significant relationship with suicide attempts later in life (Chi(2) =9.73, p<0.01). The more aggressive the group to which a patient belongs, the more likely it was that he had attempted to commit suicide (Chi(2) =9.99, p<0.01). These results draw attention to the importance of preventing suicide and treating aggression in alcoholics involved in clinical treatment.
Bácskai
Erika
E
Addiktologiai Kutato Intezet, Budapest, Hungary. erikabacskai@axelero.hu
Pintye
István
I
Gerevich
József
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data