Depression, hopelessness, and suicidal intent among heroin addicts

Heroin addicts have an exceedingly high rate of suicide. Recent studies with other clinical populations have found that hopelessness is a mediating variable between depression and suicidal behaviors. The present study attempted to discover if this same relationship held with heroin addicts. To test this relationship, 191 addicts were administered the Beck Depression Inventory, the Hopelessness Scale, and the Suicide Contemplation Scale. Suicide intent was found to be significantly correlated with hopelessness, but not with depression. The implications of these findings are discussed.