Drug Use and Suicide Attempts: The Role of Personality Factors

• NCJ Number: 194486
• Journal: Substance Use & Misuse Volume: 37 Issue: 3 Dated: 2002 Pages: 337-356
• Author(s): Monique Bolognini Ph.D.; Jacques Laget M.D.; Bernard Plancherel Ph.D.; Philippe Stephan M.D.; Maurice Corcos M.D.; Olivier Halfon M.D.
• Date Published: 2002
• Length: 20 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article focuses on a study to determine personality factors in adolescent and young adult drug use and suicide attempts in Switzerland.

Abstract

The hypotheses of this study were (1) some personality factors could be used to predict suicide attempts in drug users; (2) personality characteristics used to predict suicide attempts would differ according to gender; and (3) drug users attempting suicide would have a different profile compared to those who attempted suicide but did not use drugs. The sample included 228 subjects (107 drug users and 121 controls) ranging from 14 to 25 years of age, recruited between January 1995 and December 1997. Methods included semi-structured interviews and self-reported information. The results confirm those of empirical studies demonstrating that there are important links between “substance abuse” and suicide attempts in adolescence, with a third of the drug user subjects having attempted suicide. When comparing suicide attempters with non-attempters, some differences emerged, confirming the role of personality characteristics as precursors of suicide. Suicide attempters who were more impulsive and more often used acting-out strategies, had high scores on psychopathic deviation. Some profiles were found to discriminate suicide attempters, with high scores on paranoia, schizophrenia, and mania for males. Emotional disturbance played an important role in the development of suicidal behavior in adolescents. Emotional dependency was shown to be higher in suicide attempters. Separation anxiety disorders were a risk factor for suicide attempt. More aggressive behavior increased the likelihood of males reporting suicidal behavior. When drug abusers were considered, emotional dependency was the significant predictor of suicide attempts in males and sensation seeking was the significant predictor of suicide attempts in females. 6 tables, 37 references