Long-term outpatient treatment in alcoholics with previous suicidal behavior

The importance of previous suicidal behavior for the treatment of alcoholics was analyzed in a long-term outpatient treatment study. In a series of 72 patients, 21 patients, (29%), 17 men and 4 women, had previously made at least one suicide attempt or had seriously threatened to kill themselves (3 cases). In comparison with the other alcoholics, those with previous suicidal behavior had a similar attrition rate, they were not more troublesome in treatment, and they had the same rate of favorable outcome during the third year after start of treatment. They differed from the other alcoholics in having a more severe abuse and a less favorable outcome during the initial part of the treatment. In conclusion, our results support the possibility of a long-term outpatient treatment strategy in alcoholics with previous suicide attempts.