Alcohol and suicidal behavior
Section snippets
Conceptual models of risk for suicidal behavior
By virtue of the complex behavior they are trying to understand, conceptual models of risk for suicidal behavior are modest and speculative by definition (Clark & Fawcett, 1992). A number of conceptual models have attempted to explain how our understanding of suicidal behavior must take into account variables exerting their influence over very different time spans. The different terms used across the models can obscure their similarities. For example, the terms predisposing factors,
Conclusions
A meaningful understanding of the different roles alcohol can play in suicidal behavior will inevitably be a product of careful clinical observation and empirical study. This review has only examined empirical evidence from psychological studies. A more complete understanding of the relationship between alcohol and suicidal behavior will require insights from biological, social, and epidemiological studies as well.
A substantial body of evidence suggests that alcohol can increase the distal and
Acknowledgements
This manuscript was supported by grant no. 292145 from the MONTS project (National Science Foundation, EPSCoR). I thank John Klocek, Alan Shields, Katie Witkiewitz, and two reviewers for their helpful comments.
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