Relation of family history of suicide to suicide attempts in alcoholics

This study was an examination of whether a family history of suicide is associated with attempts at suicide among alcoholics.

A consecutive series of 333 alcoholics were interviewed about whether or not they had ever attempted suicide and about their family history of suicide.

Compared with alcoholics who had never attempted suicide, significantly more of the alcoholics who had attempted suicide reported that a first- or second-degree relative had committed suicide.

A family history of suicide may indicate that an alcoholic has a higher risk of attempting suicide.