Citation

Scherrer JF, Grant JD, Agrawal A, Madden PAF, Fu Q, Jacob T, Bucholz KK, Xian H. Nicotine Tob. Res. 2012; 14(4): 415-424.

Affiliation

Midwest Alcoholism Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine , 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8134 , St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. scherrej@psychiatry.wustl.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Publisher Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/ntr/ntr230

PMID

22080587

PMCID

PMC3313784

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Smoking is a well-established correlate of suicidal behavior. It is not known if familial risk factors contribute to this association. METHODS: Data were obtained via semistructured interviews with 1,107 twin fathers, 1,919 offspring between ages 12-32 years, and 1,023 mothers. Familial vulnerability to nicotine dependence and suicidal behavior was modeled via father and maternal self-report of these behaviors. Multinomial logistic regression models were computed with and without familial risk factors to estimate the association between offspring ever smoking, regular smoking, nicotine dependence, and a 4-level offspring suicide variable: (a) none, (b) ideation, (c) ideation + plan, and (d) ideation + plan + attempt or ideation + attempt. All models were stratified by gender and adjusted for sociodemographics, familial risk factors including parental suicidal behavior, nicotine dependence, and conduct disorder, and offspring conduct disorder, depression, alcohol abuse/dependence, and illicit drug abuse/dependence. RESULTS: After adjusting for covariates and familial risk factors, ever smoking was not significantly associated with suicidal behavior in males and females. In males, regular smoking was associated with ideation + plan (odds ratio [OR] = 5.47; 95% CI: 1.05-28.60), and in females, regular smoking was associated with ideation + plan + attempt or ideation + attempt. In both genders, nicotine-dependent smoking was associated with ideation + plan + attempt or ideation + attempt (males: OR = 6.59; 95% CI: 1.91-22.70, females: OR = 3.37; 95% CI: 1.25-9.04). Comparison of models with and without familial risk factors indicated that there is no mediation of smoking status and suicidal behavior by familial risk.Conclusions:Smoking and nicotine dependence are correlated with suicidal behaviour. Contributions from familial risk factors did not significantly alter this association.

Language: en