Alcohol use predicts emergency psychiatric unit admission for non-fatal suicidal behaviour in the Western Cape (South Africa): a case-control study.

Conclusions: Patients admitted to emergency psychiatric units for NFSB have increased needs for the treatment of AUDs compared to patients admitted for another psychiatric emergency. Findings support calls for interventions to prevent NFSB among psychiatric patients with a history of AUD.Key pointsRates of substance use among patients admitted to emergency psychiatric units in South Africa were high compared to the general population.Hazardous alcohol use was uniquely associated with hospital admission for non-fatal suicidal behaviour compared to another psychiatric emergency.Tobacco use and illicit substance use were not associated with hospital admission for non-fatal suicidal behaviour compared to another psychiatric emergency.The association between hazardous alcohol use and hospital admission for non-fatal suicidal behaviour did not appear to be affected by demographic variables.Patients admitted to hospital for non-fatal suicidal behaviour have increased needs for the treatment of alcohol use disorders compared to other psychiatric patients. PMID: 31928103 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice - Category: Psychiatry Tags: Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract Source Type: research