Citation

Hintikka J, Koivumaa-Honkanen H, Lehto SM, Tolmunen T, Honkalampi K, Haatainen KM, Viinamäki H. Soc. Psychiatry Psychiatr. Epidemiol. 2009; 44(1): 29-33.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, 70211, Kuopio, Finland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00127-008-0401-6

PMID

18600285

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Adverse life events or the commencement of adverse lifestyles associate with suicidal ideation, but most associations only have been identified in cross-sectional studies. More information is needed about whether they are true risk factors and independently predict the development of suicidal ideation. METHOD: A sample of the general population from Eastern Finland (n = 1,339) was followed-up for three-years with baseline and two follow-up assessments using postal questionnaires. The main adverse life events and changes in lifestyles were screened at baseline and on one- and three-year follow-up. The Beck Depression Inventory was used to assess the level of depression and the presence of suicidal ideation. RESULTS: Suicidal ideation was common in the sample (annual incidence 4.3%). At baseline it associated with a cluster of adverse life events and lifestyles, as well as depression. Nevertheless, only the Beck Depression Inventory score on 3-year follow-up (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.22-1.45) and the onset of daily smoking during the follow-up period (OR 5.38, 95% CI 1.41-20.62) independently predicted the presence of suicidal ideation on 3-year follow-up among those who had been non-suicidal at baseline and on 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: Depressive mood appears to be a necessary precondition for the occurrence of suicidal ideation even after adverse life events.

Language: en