Comorbidity of Alcohol Dependence in Suicidal Depressed Patients
Siriluck Suppapitiporn MD, MSc*
Affiliation : * Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
Objectives : To study the characteristics of suicidal attempt patients who had depressive symptoms and to
assess the comorbidity of alcohol problems in those patients.
Materials and Methods : One hundred and ten patients aged over 18 years who received psychiatric consul-
tation for suicidal attempt and had clinical of depression without psychotic features were evaluated for
clinical symptoms, details of self-harming, history of alcohol use disorder and family history of substance use
or suicide. The severity of depression was measured objectively with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale.
Results : Most cases of suicidal depressed patients were female (81 cases). The mean score of severity of
depression from HAM-D was 16.2( SD 3.52) that indicated moderate degree. The method employed for sui-
cidal attempt was ingestion of drug or chemical agents. About 33% of subjects had comorbid alcohol use
disorder and in this group 12.7% was diagnosed as alcohol dependence.
Factors associated with suicidal depressed patients who had comorbid alcohol use disorder were
male, aged above 30 years and lower education and additionally, in those with alcohol dependence were
associated with stressor about financial problems and less likely to attempt suicide by acetaminophen over-
dose or be precipitated by relationship problem.
Conclusion : Comorbid alcohol use disorder is common among depressed patients who attempted suicide.
More concern about recognition of these comorbidities particularly in those with associated factors and
giving appropriate treatment for the comorbidity may be helpful for prevention of suicide.
Keywords : Alcohol use disorder, Depression, Suicidal attempt
