Overdoses and suicide attempts: Different relations to psychopathology and substance abuse? A 5-year prospective study of drug abusers

Two hundred Norwegian drug abusers who consecutively applied for treatment in a therapeutic community were interviewed at intake and personally followed up on average 5 years after. Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory and Symptom Checklist-90 were used to assess the clients, Frequent use of opiates and number of months in inpatient treatment were associated with overdoses, while being a case on the Borderline scale or depression was related to suicide attempts. The study shows that overdoses and suicide attempts can be distinguished on the basis of their different psychopathological risk variables and their different relationship to substances. To understand the background of these phenomena is of importance in planning preventive action to hinder fatal overdose and suicide.