Citation

Roy A. J. Clin. Psychiatry 2002; 63(5): 403-407.

Affiliation

Department of Veterans Affairs, New Jersey Healthcare System, East Orange 07018, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Physicians Postgraduate Press)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12019664

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of opiate dependent patients who attempt suicide. METHOD: Opiate dependent patients (DSM-IV criteria) who had (N = 105) or had not (N = 141) attempted suicide were compared for family history of suicide, childhood trauma, personality traits, and experience of comorbidity with cocaine and/or alcohol dependence, major depressive disorder. and physical disorder. RESULTS: Significantly more opiate dependent patients who had attempted suicide were female (p < .0001) and unemployed (p < .0006). Patients who had attempted suicide reported significantly more family history of suicide and more childhood trauma; scored significantly higher for introversion, hostility, and neuroticism; and had experienced significantly more comorbidity with lifetime cocaine and alcohol dependence, major depressive disorder, and current physical disorder (p < .05 for all). CONCLUSION: Suicidal behavior in opiate dependent patients may involve risk factors from the family, childhood, personality, psychiatric, and physical domains.

Language: en