Suicidal Behavior and Alcohol Abuse

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Maurizio Pompili²  Gianluca Serafini²  Marco Innamorati²  Giovanni Dominici²  Stefano Ferracuti²  Giorgio D. Kotzalidis²  Giulia Serra²  Paolo Girardi²  Luigi Janiri³  Roberto Tatarelli²  Leo Sher¹ 

[1] Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; E-Mail:;Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Functions, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00189, Italy; E-Mails:;Department of Psychiatry, Catholic University Medical School, Largo F. Vito 1, Rome 00168, Italy; E-Mail:

关键词: alcohol abuse;    suicidal behavior;    psychiatric disorders;    pathophysiology;    prevention;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph7041392

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Suicide is an escalating public health problem, and alcohol use has consistently been implicated in the precipitation of suicidal behavior. Alcohol abuse may lead to suicidality through disinhibition, impulsiveness and impaired judgment, but it may also be used as a means to ease the distress associated with committing an act of suicide. We reviewed evidence of the relationship between alcohol use and suicide through a search of MedLine and PsychInfo electronic databases. Multiple genetically-related intermediate phenotypes might influence the relationship between alcohol and suicide. Psychiatric disorders, including psychosis, mood disorders and anxiety disorders, as well as susceptibility to stress, might increase the risk of suicidal behavior, but may also have reciprocal influences with alcohol drinking patterns. Increased suicide risk may be heralded by social withdrawal, breakdown of social bonds, and social marginalization, which are common outcomes of untreated alcohol abuse and dependence. People with alcohol dependence or depression should be screened for other psychiatric symptoms and for suicidality. Programs for suicide prevention must take into account drinking habits and should reinforce healthy behavioral patterns.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2010 by the authors; licensee Molecular Diversity Preservation International, Basel, Switzerland.