Personality disorders in alcoholics: A risk factor for suicide

Abstract

In the present pilot study the purpose has been to elucidate the presence of personality disorders in accordance with the DSM-III-R in alcoholic patients admitted for alcohol detoxification. Twenty women and 20 men were assessed by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R axis-II disorders (SCID-II). Of the patients 58% fulfilled the criteria for at least one personality disorder (45% of the male and 70% of the female patients). As compared with the patients without a coexisting personality disorder, alcoholics with a coexisting personality disorder had significantly more histories of attempted suicide. There was also a clear tendency for the alcoholic patients with a coexisting personality disorder to have more mixed drug abuse. No differences were found between the two groups with regard to somatic complications or frequency of hospital admissions for alcohol detoxification. No specific personality disorder was associated with an increased risk of a history of attempted suicide. However, when the patients were divided on the basis of sex, borderline personality disorder (p<0.03) turned out to be of importance for the men, and avoidant personality disorder for the women (p<0.03). Thus, in line with earlier studies, the presence of a personality disorder on axis II seems to result in a more severe and more complicated course of the axis-I disorder. Especially, the risk of suicide was considerably increased in the alcoholics with a coexisting personality disorder.

Key Words:

• Alcohol dependence
• DSM-III-R
• Personality disorder
• SCID-II
• Suicide