Suicidal Behavior and Alcohol Abuse

Maurizio Pompili, Gianluca Serafini, Marco Innamorati, Giovanni Dominici, Stefano Ferracuti, Giorgio D. Kotzalidis, Giulia Serra, Paolo Girardi, Luigi Janiri, Roberto Tatarelli, Leo Sher and David Lester
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Maurizio Pompili: Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Functions, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00189, Italy
Gianluca Serafini: Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Functions, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00189, Italy
Marco Innamorati: Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Functions, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00189, Italy
Giovanni Dominici: Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Functions, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00189, Italy
Stefano Ferracuti: Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Functions, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00189, Italy
Giorgio D. Kotzalidis: Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Functions, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00189, Italy
Giulia Serra: Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Functions, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00189, Italy
Paolo Girardi: Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Functions, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00189, Italy
Luigi Janiri: Department of Psychiatry, Catholic University Medical School, Largo F. Vito 1, Rome 00168, Italy
Roberto Tatarelli: Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Functions, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00189, Italy
Leo Sher: Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
David Lester: The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Pomona, NJ 08240, USA

IJERPH, 2010, vol. 7, issue 4, 1-40

Abstract: Suicide is an escalating public health problem, and alcohol use has consistently been implicated in the precipitation of suicidal behavior. Alcohol abuse may lead to suicidality through disinhibition, impulsiveness and impaired judgment, but it may also be used as a means to ease the distress associated with committing an act of suicide. We reviewed evidence of the relationship between alcohol use and suicide through a search of MedLine and PsychInfo electronic databases. Multiple genetically-related intermediate phenotypes might influence the relationship between alcohol and suicide. Psychiatric disorders, including psychosis, mood disorders and anxiety disorders, as well as susceptibility to stress, might increase the risk of suicidal behavior, but may also have reciprocal influences with alcohol drinking patterns. Increased suicide risk may be heralded by social withdrawal, breakdown of social bonds, and social marginalization, which are common outcomes of untreated alcohol abuse and dependence. People with alcohol dependence or depression should be screened for other psychiatric symptoms and for suicidality. Programs for suicide prevention must take into account drinking habits and should reinforce healthy behavioral patterns.

Keywords: alcohol abuse; suicidal behavior; psychiatric disorders; pathophysiology; prevention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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