Citation

Galway K, Gossrau-Breen D, Mallon S, Hughes L, Rosato M, Rondon-Sulbaran J, Leavey G. Br. J. Psychiatry 2015; 208(3): 292-297.

Affiliation

Karen Galway, PhD, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast; Diana Gossrau-Breen, PhD, Public Health Agency for Northern Ireland, UK; Sharon Mallon, PhD, Faculty of Health & Social Care, Open University, UK; Lynette Hughes, PhD, Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health, UK; Michael Rosato, PhD, Janeet Rondon-Sulbaran, MSc, Gerry Leavey, PhD, Bamford Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Ulster University, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Royal College of Psychiatry)

DOI

10.1192/bjp.bp.114.147603

PMID

26541690

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although substance misuse is a key risk factor in suicide, relatively little is known about the relationship between lifetime misuse and misuse at the time of suicide.AimsTo examine the relationship between substance misuse and subsequent suicide.

METHOD: Linkage of coroners' reports to primary care records for 403 suicides occurring over 2 years.

RESULTS: With alcohol misuse, 67% of the cohort had previously sought help for alcohol problems and 39% were intoxicated at the time of suicide. Regarding misuse of other substances, 54% of the cohort was tested. Almost one in four (38%) tested positive, defined as an excess of drugs over the prescribed therapeutic dosage and/or detection of illicit substances. Those tested were more likely to be young and have a history of drug misuse.

CONCLUSIONS: A deeper understanding of the relationship between substance misuse and suicide could contribute to prevention initiatives. Furthermore, standardised toxicology screening processes would avoid diminishing the importance of psychosocial factors involved in suicide as a 'cause of death'.

Language: en