Citation

Hostetter TA, Hoffmire CA, Forster JE, Adams RS, Stearns-Yoder KA, Brenner LA. J. Head Trauma Rehabil. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

VHA Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, Aurora, Colorado (Mss Hostetter and Stearns-Yoder and Drs Hoffmire, Forster, Adams, and Brenner); Institute for Behavioral Health, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts (Dr Adams); and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Drs Hoffmire and Forster), Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Marcus Institute for Brain Health (Ms Stearns-Yoder), and Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Psychiatry, and Neurology and Marcus Institute for Brain Health (Dr Brenner), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/HTR.0000000000000489

PMID

31369450

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Examine associations between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and (1) suicide and (2) suicide method among individuals receiving Veterans Health Administration (VHA) care. SETTING: VHA, Fiscal Years 2006-2015. PARTICIPANTS: Veterans with a TBI diagnosis during/prior to the study window (n = 215 610), compared with a 20% random sample of those without TBI (n = 1 187 639).

DESIGN: Retrospective, cohort study. Cox proportional hazards models were fit accounting for time-dependent measures, chronic conditions, and demographics for those with TBI compared with those without. Additional models evaluated the impact of TBI severity on the association between TBI and suicide, and method. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Death by and method of suicide.

RESULTS: The hazard of suicide was 2.19 times higher for those with TBI than for those without TBI (95% CI = 2.02-2.37), and was still significant after accounting for covariates (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.71; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.56-1.87). Considering severity, mild TBI compared with no TBI was significantly associated with an elevated hazard of suicide, after adjusting for covariates (HR = 1.62; 95% CI = 1.47-1.78). There was also a significant difference in death by suicide between moderate/severe TBI when compared with no TBI, after adjusting for covariates (HR = 2.45; 95% CI = 2.02-2.97). Moderate/severe TBI was significantly associated with an increase in the odds of suicide by firearm among decedents (odds ratio = 2.39; 95% CI = 1.48-3.87).

CONCLUSION: Traumatic brain injury is associated with an elevated risk for suicide. Particular concern is warranted for those with moderate/severe TBI. Lethal means safety should be explored as an intervention.

Language: en