Leo Sher, M.D.

Our research report, “Triggers for suicidal behavior in depressed older adolescents and young adults: do alcohol use disorders make a difference?” was published in the January-March 2007 issue of the International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health (1).

In this study, we compared demographic and clinical characteristics, prevalence of interpersonal triggers and the number of triggers for suicidal behavior in depressed late adolescents and young adults with or without comorbid alcohol use disorders. We hypothesized that the prevalence of interpersonal triggers for suicide attempts will be higher in suicide attempters with comorbid alcohol use disorders.

Sixty-seven 18-26-year-old subjects were recruited through advertising and referrals and participated in mood disorders research in a university hospital. Thirty-eight depressed suicide attempters without a history of any alcohol or substance use disorders and 29 depressed suicide attempters with comorbid alcohol use disorders participated in the study. Demographic and clinical parameters including parameters related to suicidal behavior were examined and recorded.

There was no difference with regard to demographic parameters between the two groups. Depressed suicide attempters with comorbid alcohol use disorders had higher aggression and impulsivity scale scores and were more likely to be tobacco smokers compared to their counterparts without alcohol use disorders. Additionally, there was a trend towards higher lethality of suicide attempts in subjects with alcohol use disorders compared to the other group. We found no difference in the prevalence of interpersonal triggers or in the number of triggers for suicidal behavior between the two groups.

References

1. Sher L, Sperling D, Stanley BH, Carballo JJ, Shoval G, Zalsman G, Burke AK, Mann JJ, Oquendo MA. Triggers for suicidal behavior in depressed older adolescents and young adults: do alcohol use disorders make a difference? Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2007 Jan-Mar;19(1):91-8. doi: 10.1515/ijamh.2007.19.1.91.