MichelLejoyeux1*, Simone Guillermet1, Enrique Casalino2, Valérie Lequen1, Florence Chalvin1, Aymeric Petit1 and Véronique Le Goanvic11Department of Psychiatry and Addictive Medicine, Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France and Maison Blanche Hospital, Paris, France
2Emergency Ward, Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital. AP-HP, Paris, France
Addiction
Research & Therapy
Lejoyeux et al., J Addict Res Ther 2014, 5:1
http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2155-6105.1000168
Abstract
Background: To assess the prevalence of nicotine dependence in a population of patients examined following asuicide attempt and to compare
suicide attempts with and without nicotine dependence.
Methods: 200 patients were examined in an emergency department after a suicide attempt. They answered the MAST and the Fagerström questionnaire, and the DSM-IV-TR criteria for alcohol and nicotine were checked. We also
assessed socio-demographic characteristics, the mode of suicide attempt and level of sensation seeking.
Results: The prevalence of nicotine dependence was 57% among suicide attempters. Suicide attempters with nicotine dependence were more often men (42 vs. 12%, p=0.001), single (67 vs. 32%, p=0.008) and had taken alcohol
before suicide. They were often multi-attempters (2.7 vs. 1 suicide attempt in their history) and had been more often hospitalized in psychiatry (1.9 vs. 0.6 hospitalization, p<0.001) than others. They drank more alcohol (3.7 vs. 0.7 drinks/
day, p<0.001), presented more alcohol dependence and abuse (36 vs. 8%, p<0.00001) and had a higher level of sensation seeking. Factors associated to nicotine dependence were male gender, ingestion of alcohol before suicide
attempt, number of previous suicide attempts and number of alcohol intoxication per week.
Conclusion: 57% of the patients examined after a suicide attempt present nicotine dependence. Emergency units may provide an opportunity to systematically identify a dependence disorder and to offer appropriate information and
treatment
Addiction
Research & Therapy
Lejoyeux et al., J Addict Res Ther 2014, 5:1
http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2155-6105.1000168