Chapter 4

Suicide and Alcohol Abuse

Marco Innamorati, Maurizio Pompili, Gianluca Serafini, Luigi Janiri, Désirée Harnic, Denise Erbuto and David Lester

Abstract

Suicide is an escalating public health problem, and alcohol use has consistently been implicated in the precipitation of suicidal behavior. We reviewed evidence for the relationship between alcohol use and suicide through a search of MedLine and PsychInfo electronic databases. The results of our review indicate a clear link between alcohol use disorders and suicide but, to date, the causal nature of this relationship is speculative. The solution may be in research investigating the possible biological, social and psychological variables that mediate this link.

Total Pages: 40-54 (15)

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