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The British Journal of Psychiatry (2004) 184: 439-445
© 2004 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Relationship between alcohol use disorders and suicidality in a psychiatric population

In-patient prevalence study

Annie McCloud, MRCPsych

Tower Hamlets Specialist Addictions Unit, St Clement's Hospital, London

Ben Barnaby, BSc (Hons)

Department of Addictive Behaviour and Psychological Medicine, St George's Hospital Medical School, University of London

Nicola Omu, MRCPsych

SW London and St George's Mental Health Trust, Springfield Hospital, London

Colin Drummond, FRCPsych

Department of Addictive Behaviour and Psychological Medicine, St George's Hospital Medical School, University of London

Andy Aboud, MRCPsych

SW London and St George's Mental Health Trust, Springfield Hospital, London

Correspondence: Dr Annie McCloud, Tower Hamlets Specialist Addictions Unit, St Clement's Hospital, 2a Bow Rd, London E3 4LL, UK. Tel: 020 7377 7975; e-mail: Annie.McCloud{at}elcmht.nhs.uk.

Declaration of interest None.

Background Alcohol misuse is a risk factor in suicide and parasuicide.

Aims To measure the prevalence of alcohol use disorders in a cohort of psychiatric admissions using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), and the relationship between the AUDIT score and suicidality.

Method Consecutive psychiatric admissions were interviewed with a lifestyle survey that included the AUDIT, and admission case notes were reviewed.

Results Out of 200 subjects, 48.5% scored 8 or more (indicating hazardous or harmful alcohol use) and 22.5% scored 16 or more (indicating significant alcohol dependence) on the AUDIT. There were no significant gender differences. Alcohol misuse was strongly associated with suicidality.

Conclusions The AUDIT questionnaire should be incorporated into psychiatric assessments when risk of self-harm is being evaluated. Further research is warranted to examine the impact of interventions for alcohol use disorders in psychiatric settings on self-harm and suicidal ideation.


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