Citation

Vento AE, Pompili M, Schifano F, Corkery JM, Innamorati M, Girardi P, Ghodse H. Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry 2011; 35(5): 1279-1283.

Affiliation

Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Functions, Suicide Prevention Centre, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.pnpbp.2011.02.014

PMID

21354243

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Substance-related deaths account for a great number of suicides. Aim To investigate levels and characteristics of suicide verdicts, as opposed to accidental deaths, in substance misusers. METHODS: Psychological autopsy study of cases from the UK National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths (np-SAD) during the period 2001-2007. RESULTS: Between January 2001 and December 2007, 2108 suicides for whom autopsy was carried out were reported to the np-SAD. Typical suicide victims were White and older than 50 (respectively 95% and 41% of cases). Medications, especially antidepressants (44%), were prescribed to 87% of victims. Significantly fewer suicides than controls presented with positive blood toxicological results for illicit drugs (namely: cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, ecstasy-type drugs, cannabis, GHB/GBL, etc.) and alcohol. CONCLUSIONS: Suicide prevention programmes should devote specific attention to deaths among substance-misusers who are at high risk of fatal intentional self-harm. Specific characteristics distinguish those at risk; caregivers should be better educated as to what these factors are.

Language: en