@article{ref1,
title="Recent medical service utilization and health conditions associated with a history of suicide attempts",
journal="General hospital psychiatry",
year="2014",
author="Ballard, E.D. and Cwik, M. and Storr, C.L. and Goldstein, M. and Eaton, W.W. and Wilcox, H.C.",
volume="36",
number="4",
pages="437-441",
abstract="OBJECTIVES: Suicide is a leading cause of death; unfortunately most individuals at risk for suicide are not identified, assessed or treated by the mental health system. Investigating medical healthcare utilization among individuals with a history of suicide attempt may identify alternative settings for case finding and brief intervention.
METHODS: The study sample (n= 1422, 58% female, 72% African-American) is from a prospective cohort of adults (27-31 years) who participated in a randomized trial of school-based interventions. Logistic regression evaluated the relationship between lifetime history of suicide attempt with past year medical service utilization and selected self- reported health conditions, controlling for lifetime Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), demographic factors, health insurance status and employment.
RESULTS: A suicide attempt history was associated with past year emergency department medical visits [aOR 1.51, 95% CI 1.04-2.18, P=.03], but not primary care visits or inpatient hospitalization, when controlling for MDD and other covariates. Severe headaches and chronic gastrointestinal conditions were also associated with lifetime suicide attempt [aOR 1.50, 95% CI 1.03-2.17 and aOR 1.67, 95% CI 1.06-2.63, respectively].
CONCLUSIONS: Suicide prevention, including universal screening and brief intervention, is indicated in emergency department settings. Restricting screening to subgroups, such as those individuals presenting with depression, may miss at-risk individuals with somatic concerns. © 2014 Elsevier Inc.Language: en
",
language="en",
issn="0163-8343",
doi="10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2014.03.004",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2014.03.004"
}