Alcohol abuse and suicidal behaviour.
OBJECTIVE
The Psychiatric emergency clinic (PEC) was established at University Psychiatric Hospital Ljubljana in 2004. 2760 patients were examined in the PEC until the end of May 2004.


METHODS
We have gathered data from medical documentation about the patient's age, suicidal behaviour, pharmacotherapy and psychoactive substances misuse. We compared patients with substance misuse and patients without substance misuse regarding suicidal behaviour and prescribed psychopharmacotherapy.


RESULTS
There was a significant difference in suicidal behaviour between the group of those, who abused PAS (n=497) and those who did not (35.4% vs. 28.0%, N = 1753, Pearson Chi-Square Test, p<0.001). More patients who abused PAS attempted suicide (9.5% vs. 3.5%, N = 2760, Fisher's Exact Test, p < 0.001). However, we have not observed a difference between the groups regarding suicidal threats and thoughts (17.2% vs. 18.0%, N = 2592, Fisher's exact test, p = NS). The subgroup of patients with PAS abuse have been prescribed pharmacotherapy more often than others (19.4% vs. 11.4%, N = 2592, Fisher's Exact Test, p < 0.001). Our data is in accordance with previous observations that PAS abuse is a risk factor for suicidal behaviour.
Veranic
Lea Zmuc
LZ
University Psychiatric Hospital Ljubljana, Studenec 48, 1260 Ljubljana, Slovenia. lea.zmuc@psih-klinika.si
Pregelj
Peter
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D017524:Slovenia; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs