Corelaţia dintre tulburările induse de consumul de alcool şicomportamentul suicidar

Abstract

Both suicide and excessive ethanol use are major public health problems that society faces. Individuals who develop ethanol abuse or dependence are more likely to develop suicidal ideation throughout their lives, compared to people who are not associated with this addiction. The synchronous presence of a mood disorder can interfere with the relationship between alcohol abuse/dependence and suicide. The risk factors that further contribute to the association of the two entities must be considered as well. For example, maladaptive coping strategies and the way the individual face everyday problems or stressors contribute to a greater exposure to both excessive ethanol consumption and suicidal behavior. These two elements potentiate each other, and the patient can enter into a vicious circle which in many situations can lead to suicide. In order to resort to the act of taking their own lives or expressing suicidal behavior, patients often present disinhibition, decreased judgment and increased impulsivity, which are also the greatest risk factors for ethanol consumers to deviate to a suicidal attempt. The purpose of this review is to better understand the mechanisms underlying suicidal behavior and ethanol dependence, and the link between ethanol consumption and suicidal thoughts. We reviewed articles that reported both alcohol abuse and suicidal behavior, associated or not with mood disorders. We analyzed studies found on Google Scholar and PubMed databases. The searching keywords were “suicide attempt” and “alcohol abuse”. We also looked for evidence that pointed to a link between alcoholism and suicide.