Year: 1971 Source: Psychiatrica Fennica, (1971), p.209-213 SIEC No: 19860552

The purpose of this study was to explore the extent to which psychiatric patients who later committed suicide had been excessive drinkers & to find out how this group differed from psychiatric patients who later committed suicide but were not excessive users. From a sample of 100 former psychiatric patients in Helsinki from 1956-1965; 44 had used alcohol excessively, 23 for 20 years or more. Excessive drinking is viewed as a defense mechanism. 8 ref. (NBB)