Disproportionate Suicidality in Patients With Comorbid Major Depression and Alcoholism

In this study, the clinical profile of 107 patients diagnosed at intake with both major depression & alcohol dependence was compared to that of 497 nondepressed alcoholics & 5,625 nonalcoholic patients with major depression. Conclusion: The clinical profile of depressed alcoholics suggests that they suffer an additive or synergistic effect of two separate disorders, resulting in a disproportionately high level of acute suicidality upon initial psychiatric evaluation. (31 Refs.)