All participants with an AUD in COGA reported elevated rates of suicidal ideation, other substance use disorders, and trauma exposure compared to the general population (Baca-Garcia et al., 2010; Grant et al., 2016). However, those who met criteria for an AUD and reported a lifetime suicide attempt had even greater levels of lifetime trauma (sexual, assaultive, and non-assaultive), other substance related problems, suicidal ideation, and comorbid psychiatric conditions (PTSD and major depressive disorder) relative to those who had not attempted suicide. These results confirm that those with AUD who report a lifetime suicide attempt represent clinically high-risk group. Given the strong role early trauma plays in risk for suicide attempt (Zatti et al., 2017), the elevated levels of exposure to trauma in this group, and the higher rates of PTSD, trauma exposure may play an even more important role for SA risk in those with AUD. Future work should utilize prospective information to determine whether early trauma exposure and psychiatric problems predate the onset of AUD and eventual SA in COGA.
