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Abstract
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INTRODUCTION: To elucidate risk factors of suicidal behavior among patients with alcohol dependence (AD), we examined various clinical factors in Japanese AD patients using data from the Japan Collaborative Clinical Study on Alcohol Dependence (JCSA).
METHODS: Fifty-four hospitals throughout Japan participated in the study. The clinical symptoms and inpatient and outpatient treatment for each patient were monitored, and the 6-month outcomes after discharge from the hospitals were also assessed.
RESULTS: Eight hundred and fifty-three patients with AD were enrolled. Patients whose duration of observation after discharge was longer than 180 days were selected, and 648 patients were included in the analysis. About 16% of the AD patients had experienced suicidal ideation at some time, and 9% of them had attempted suicide. Lifetime depression, violence during intoxication, and number of previous hospitalizations were associated with a history of suicidal attempts. Suicidal ideation and depression after discharge were associated with poor treatment outcomes among patients with AD.
CONCLUSION: This study identified clinical characteristics and factors associated with suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts among Japanese patients with AD. These findings are expected to contribute to the development of preventive measures against suicidal behavior in AD patients.
Language: en |