Treatment received by alcohol‐dependent suicide attempters

The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical features of alcohol‐dependent suicide attempters and the treatment they received before and after the index attempt. A total of 47 subjects with current DSM‐III‐R alcohol dependence were identified from a systematic sample of 114 suicide attempters in Helsinki. All of them were comprehensively interviewed after the attempt, and the treatment they had received was established from psychiatric and other health‐care records and follow‐up interviews. Most had a history of psychiatric (83%) or substance abuse (83%) treatment. During the final month before the attempt, half of the subjects (51 %)) had been treated by health care services; 11% had received disulfiram‐treatment and 6% had received psychotherapy. Subjects complied with recommended aftercare more often when they had been actively referred. After 1 month, 64% were being treated by health care services. However, only 14% were receiving disulfiram‐treatment and 9% were receiving psychotherapy. These findings suggest that the quality and activity of treatment offered to suicide attempters with alcohol dependence should be improved.