[Does participating in AA decrease the risk for suicide in alcohol dependence?].

Abstract

It is well-known that presence of alcohol dependence increases the risk for suicide. But it is not understood how the risk for suicide in alcohol dependence is decreased. This study aimed to show that participating in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) decreased, the risk for suicide in alcohol dependence. Sixty four participants in this survey were collected from voluntary AA members in Hokkaido area. They answered self-reporting questionnaires with regard to gender, age, living with family, marriage, jobs, histories of attending AA meetings, familial histories about alcohol dependence, duration of abstinence, and suicidal phenomena which were pre-suicidal thoughts, suicidal thoughts, suicidal plans, suicidal attempts were retrospectively asked before and after becoming AA members. Participating in AA caused a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in the risk for suicidal phenomena in alcohol dependence. Psychosocial treatments usually acknowledged spirituality, but might not address them directly. We referred to spirituality in AA and Japanese spirituality. We discussed the relation between spirituality in AA and prevention of suicide.