Citation

Sher L, Oquendo MA, Conason AH, Brent DA, Grunebaum MF, Zalsman G, Burke AK, Mann JJ. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 2005; 112(4): 266-271.

Affiliation

Division of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA. ls2003@columbia.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1600-0447.2005.00591.x

PMID

16156833

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical features of depressed subjects without alcoholism but with a family history of alcoholism to a depressed group without alcoholism and without a family history of alcoholism. METHOD: Clinical and demographic data of 209 depressed subjects without a history of alcoholism in first-degree relatives and 73 depressed individuals with a history of alcoholism in first-degree relatives were compared. Subjects with a personal history of alcoholism were excluded. RESULTS: Depressed subjects with a family history of alcoholism have a significantly higher prevalence of reported childhood physical and sexual abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), make more suicide attempts, and have greater intent to die at the time of their most lethal suicide attempt, compared to depressed subjects without a family history of alcoholism. CONCLUSION: Depressed patients with a family history of alcoholism are at greater risk for suicidal behavior and PTSD and may require more careful management.

Language: en