Citation

Saab NGJ, Nuevo JJL, López LR, Ayala GV, Guerra AFR, Islas IL. Medicina Interna de Mexico 2005; 21(3): 183-187.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: In Mexico suicide is the 18 th cause of death, having registered an alarming increase of 200% in the last 30 years. Likewise, consumption of alcohol and drugs has also been intensified.

OBJECTIVES: To establish the relationship between alcohol and drugs consumption as independent factors that predispose to suicide.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Study of cases and controls. There were studied 126 patients, 63 cases (patients about to commit suicide treated at the SSDF hospitals from March, 2001 to March, 2002) and 63 controls. We excluded cases that had previous diagnosis of depression.

RESULTS: From the 63 cases, 65% were women. The age they had more suicidal intents was of 15 to 26 years. The alcohol consumption mean of the cases was of 3.5 times per week, and that of controls 1.26. The odds ratio for alcohol consumption was of 3.7, and for drugs consumption of 3.1. The Xmh analysis for alcohol consumption was of 3.6 (IC 95%: 2.7 to 4.6) and for drugs consumption of 2.56 (IC 95%: 1.6 to 3.4). The t Student test for alcohol consumption was of 3.3, and for drugs consumption of 3.2, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between cases and controls.

CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol and drugs consumption is an independent risk factor for the depression diagnosis. It increases the probabilities of commiting suicide up to 3.7 times. Addictions may suggest a self-destructing tendency that affects young individuals mainly.

Language: es

Keywords

adolescent; adult; human; Suicide; female; male; Alcohol; depression; drug use; suicide attempt; suicidal behavior; Drugs; alcohol consumption; article; major clinical study; controlled study; drinking behavior; disease predisposition; statistical significance