Characteristics of cocaine-dependent patients who attempt suicide

Abstract

Objective: Although suicidal behavior is frequent among cocaine-dependent patients, it has been little studied. Therefore, the author examined the characteristics of cocaine-dependent patients who had attempted suicide.

Method: Cocaine-dependent patients who had attempted suicide (N=84) were compared with cocaine-dependent patients who had never attempted suicide (N=130) on clinical, personality, psychiatric, and physical variables.

Results: Significantly more of the patients who had attempted suicide were female and had a family history of suicidal behavior; they reported significantly more childhood trauma and were significantly more introverted, neurotic, and hostile. They had also had significantly more comorbidity with alcohol and/or opiate dependence, major depression, and physical disorders.

Conclusions: The clinical implications are that family, childhood, personality, psychiatric, and physical risk factors contribute to suicidal behavior in cocaine-dependent patients. Comorbidity appears to be an important determinant of suicidal behavior.