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Park CHK, Yoo SH, Lee J, Cho SJ, Shin MS, Kim EY, Kim SH, Ham K, Ahn YM. Impact of acute alcohol consumption on lethality of suicide methods. Compr Psychiatry 2017; 75:27-34. [PMID: 28288368 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2017.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 02/26/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The influence of acute alcohol consumption on the factors related to suicide remains understudied. Thus, the present study investigated the relationship between blood alcohol content (BAC) and the lethality of suicide methods. METHODS Autopsy data on 315 South Korean suicide completers with a positive BAC were collected from a nationwide pool between May 2015 and November 2015, and the methods were dichotomised as suicide methods of low lethality (SMLL; drug/chemical overdose and sharp objects, n=67) and suicide methods of high lethality (SMHL; everything else, n=243). BAC at the time of autopsy and various suicide-related factors of these two groups were compared with logistic regression analyses. RESULTS Compared to suicide completers with a BAC in the lowest range of 0.011-0.049%, suicide completers with a BAC in the range of 0.150-0.199% were more likely to use SMHL (odds ratio [OR]: 3.644, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.221-10.874). Additionally, the adoption of SMHL was significantly associated with the absence of a psychiatric illness (OR: 0.433, 95% CI: 0.222-0.843) and a younger age; the OR for high BAC among subjects in their 40s was 0.266 (95% CI: 0.083-0.856); in their 50s, 0.183 (95% CI: 0.055-0.615); and in their 60s, 0.057 (95% CI: 0.015-0.216). CONCLUSIONS The relationship between BAC and suicide method lethality was represented by a bell-shaped pattern in which suicide methods of high lethality were more likely to be used by suicide completers with mid-range BAC levels. The increased impulsivity and impairments in particular executive functions, including planning and organization, associated with acute alcohol use may influence the selection of a particular suicide method based on its lethality.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Hyung Keun Park
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea.
| | - Seong Ho Yoo
- Institute of Forensic Medicine and Department of Forensic Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jaewon Lee
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sung Joon Cho
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea.
| | - Min-Sup Shin
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea.
| | - Eun Young Kim
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea; Mental Health Center, Seoul National University Health Care Center, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
| | - Se Hyun Kim
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Dongguk University International Hospital, Dongguk University Medical School, 27 Dongguk-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 10326, Republic of Korea.
| | - Keunsoo Ham
- Psychological Forensics Division, National Forensic Service, 10 Ipchun-ro, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do 26460, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yong Min Ahn
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea.
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