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Journal Article

Citation

Pitman A, Tham SG, Hunt IM, Webb RT, Appleby L, Kapur N. J. Affect. Disord. 2019; 257: 173-179.

Affiliation

Centre for Mental Health and Safety, University of Manchester, UK; Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre (MAHSC), University of Manchester, UK; NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, UK; Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jad.2019.06.027

PMID

31301620

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Many physical health problems are associated with elevated suicide risk whilst also providing access to means of overdose. We aimed to investigate whether psychiatric patients with physical co-morbidities who die by suicide were more likely than those without co-morbidities to self-poison with non-psychotropic medications.

METHODS: We analysed data on 14,648 psychiatric patients who died by suicide in England & Wales during 2004-2015, as recorded by the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health. Using logistic regression models adjusted for age, gender, ethnicity, and primary drug dependence/misuse we compared patients diagnosed with physical co-morbidities versus those without to assess whether a greater proportion of the former had died by overdose, and medication prescribed to treat such disorders (e.g. opioids, insulin).

RESULTS: 24% (n = 3525) were recorded as having physical co-morbidity. A greater proportion of these individuals died by self-poisoning than those without physical co-morbidity (37% vs. 20%, p < .001; adjusted OR 2.47; 95% CI 2.26-2.70), and they were more likely to have used medications for a physical health disorder in overdose (50% vs. 34%; adjusted OR 2.10; 95% CI 1.80-2.46), particularly opioids (30% vs. 22%; p < .001), paracetamol/opioid compounds (11% vs. 7%, p < .001) and insulin (4% vs. 1%, p < .001). LIMITATIONS: Use of survey data may have resulted in under-reporting of physical health problems and/or overdose medications.

CONCLUSIONS: Overdose, rather than hanging, is the leading cause of suicide among psychiatric patients with physical co-morbidities, particularly using non-psychotropic medications. There is potential for means restriction in preventing suicide among these patients.

Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.


Language: en

Keywords

Means restriction; Overdose; Physical health co-morbidities; Prescribing; Suicide

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