Citation

Britton PC, Ilgen MA, Valenstein M, Knox K, Claassen CA, Conner KR. Am. J. Public Health 2012; 102(S1): S125-S130.

Affiliation

Peter C. Britton, Kerry Knox, Cynthia A. Claassen, and Kenneth R. Conner are with the VISN 2 Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention, Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Canandaigua, NY, and the Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide, Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY. Mark A. Ilgen and Marcia Valenstein are with the VISN 11 Serious Mental Illness Treatment Resource and Evaluation (SMITREC), Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, and the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, American Public Health Association)

DOI

10.2105/AJPH.2011.300415

PMID

22390586

Abstract

Objectives. Our objective was to examine all suicides (n = 423) in 2 geographic areas of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) over a 7-year period and to perform detailed chart reviews on the subsample that had a VHA visit in the last year of life (n = 381). Methods. Within this sample, we compared a group with 1 or more documented psychiatric symptoms (68.5%) to a group with no such symptoms (31.5%). The groups were compared on suicidal thoughts and behaviors, somatic symptoms, and stressors using the χ(2) test and on time to death after the last visit using survival analyses. Results. Veterans with documented psychiatric symptoms were more likely to receive a suicide risk assessment, and have suicidal ideation and a suicide plan, sleep problems, pain, and several stressors. These veterans were also more likely to die in the 60 days after their last visit. Conclusions. Findings indicated presence of 2 large and distinct groups of veterans at risk for suicide in the VHA, underscoring the value of tailored prevention strategies, including approaches suitable for those without identified psychiatric symptoms.

Language: en