Alcohol Consumption and Violent Deaths in the City of Sao Paulo in 2015

The role of alcohol and patterns of alcohol-related deaths in Republic of North Macedonia within the period 2007-2020

Excessive alcohol consumption is one of the most important factors in a substantial number of violent deaths. The aim of our study was to investigate alcohol-related deaths in the Republic of North Macedonia in the period from 2007 to 2020, in order to study the influence of elevated blood alcohol levels in violent deaths. Five hundred sixty-four post-mortem blood samples from alcohol-related death cases-natural deaths and violent deaths (suicides, accidents, and homicides)-were analyzed, and the results were evaluated according to sex, age, and cause of death. Among 564 cases, traffic accidents were the leading cause of violent death (54.3% of the cases) followed by suicides (19.9% of the cases). In the examined post-mortem samples, BAC values ranged from 0.15-6.20 g/L. The average age was 45 ± 16 years for the male and 49 ± 19 years for the female group. The biggest proportion of high BAC values was found in the group of accidents specifically road traffic accidents and accidental intoxication as well as in the group of bolus deaths. The analysis of BAC in the cases of violent deaths in the Republic of North Macedonia confirmed that consumption of alcohol is strongly related to violent deaths. The data obtained from this study could raise caution and give aid in a national strategy for the prevention of alcohol-related violent deaths.

Characteristics of deaths by suicide in postmortem studies in Brazil: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death, with a trend for its increase in Brazil in past decades. This study aimed to review the characteristics of suicides in Brazilian postmortem studies.

METHODS

Studies investigating suicide deaths in Brazil, and based on autopsy or psychological autopsy were included. Proportions were pooled across studies with the use of random and fixed effects models.

RESULTS

6777 references were retrieved from six databases (searches up to January, 2023), and 45 studies included. In autopsy studies (k = 37, n = 16,231), substance use at toxicological analysis was found in 36.42% of cases (95% CI: 30.05-43.32), previous suicide attempts in 23.92% (95% CI: 6.73-57.78). In psychological autopsy studies (k = 8, n = 139), previous suicide attempts were reported in 28.09% (95% CI: 19.74-38.28), psychiatric conditions/symptoms in 90.67% (95% CI: 67.79-97.82), family history of suicidality in 21.33% (95% CI: 13.5-32.03). Most suicide deaths were reported in males and took place at the victim's home, hanging was the most frequent suicide method. Included studies presented significant limitations in quality assessment.

CONCLUSION

Future studies should present more robust methodology, including bigger samples, the use of controls, and validated methodology.

Alcohol, Aggression, and Violence: From Public Health to Neuroscience

Alcohol has been associated with violent crimes and domestic violence across many nations. Various etiological factors were linked to chronic alcohol use and violence including psychiatric comorbidities of perpetrators such as personality disorders, mood disorders, and intermittent explosive disorders. Aggression is the precursor of violence and individuals prone to aggressive behaviors are more likely to commit impulsive violent crimes, especially under the influence of alcohol. Findings from brain studies indicate long-term alcohol consumption induced morphological changes in brain regions involved in self-control, decision-making, and emotional processing. In line with this, the inherent dopaminergic and serotonergic anomalies seen in aggressive individuals increase their susceptibility to commit violent crimes when alcohol present in their system. In relation to this, this article intends to investigate the influence of alcohol on aggression with sociopsychological and neuroscientific perspectives by looking into comorbidity of personality or mood disorders, state of the mind during alcohol consumption, types of beverages, environmental trigger, neurochemical changes, and gender differences that influence individual responses to alcohol intake and susceptibility to intoxicated aggression.