Gender Differences in the Effect of Alcohol Use on Intent and Lethality of Suicidal Attempts

Lee, Jinhee; Min, Seongho; Ahn, Joung Sook; Park, Ki Chang; Kim, Min Hyuk; Kim, Heungkyu

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to clarify the role of alcohol use disorders and acute alcohol consumption in suicide attempts by gender.
METHODS
Data of 1,152 suicide attempters(487 males and 742 females) who had visited an emergency center was gathered. Suicide attempts were categorized into three groups according to alcohol use: an alcohol use disorder group(AUD), an acute alcohol use group(AAU), and a no-alcohol use group(NAU). The intent and lethality of suicide attempts were evaluated by Suicidal Intents Scale and Risk-Rescue Rating Scale.
RESULTS
For Suicidal Intents Scale score, the male AUD group revealed a significantly lower mean score than the male AAU one. However, there were no statistically significant differences for female subjects across subgroups. With regard to the Risk-Rescue Rating Scale score, there were no significant differences for males, while the AUD group showed both the lowest highest rescue scores and lowest risk-rescue scores within female groups.
CONCLUSIONS
AUD in females was more likely regarding impulsive suicide attempts with high rescue chances. Consuming alcohol might have different effect on suicide attempts by gender and our study shows that alcohol use is an important risk factor according to gender, particularly with regard to female suicide attempts.