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Interpersonal stressors, substance abuse, and suicide
P R Duberstein1, Y Conwell, E D Caine
1University of Rochester-NIMH Clinical Research Center for the Study of Psychopathology of the Elderly, New York.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
|February 1, 1993
Summary
Suicide linked to alcoholism and substance dependence often follows interpersonal loss and conflict. Victims with alcohol/substance dependence face a wider array of stressors, including arguments and relationship issues, before death.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- Suicide in individuals with depression differs from that in those with substance use disorders.
- Previous research suggests interpersonal loss and conflict precede suicide in alcoholism and substance dependence.
- A comprehensive understanding of interpersonal stressors is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify and extend findings on interpersonal stressors preceding suicide in alcohol/substance dependence (A/SD).
- To compare the range and types of interpersonal stressors in A/SD suicide victims versus mood/anxiety disorder (M/AD) suicide completers.
Main Methods:
- Psychological autopsy methodology was employed.
- Study included 57 suicide victims: 30 with A/SD and 27 with M/AD.
- Interpersonal stressors within 6 weeks prior to death were analyzed.
Main Results:
- A majority of A/SD suicide victims experienced interpersonal stressors.
- A/SD suicide victims encountered a broader spectrum of interpersonal stressors than M/AD completers.
- Key stressors for A/SD subjects included conflicts/arguments and attachment disruptions.
Conclusions:
- Interpersonal stressors play a significant role in suicide among individuals with A/SD.
- The nature of these stressors differs between A/SD and M/AD suicide completers.
- Findings highlight the importance of addressing interpersonal issues in suicide prevention for A/SD populations.