Citation

Campbell G, Darke S, Bruno R, Degenhardt L. Aust. N. Zeal. J. Psychiatry 2015; 49(9): 803-811.

Affiliation

National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0004867415569795

PMID

25698809

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Research suggests that people suffering from chronic pain have elevated rates of suicidality. With an ageing population, more research is essential to gain a better understanding of this association. AIMS: To document the prevalence and correlates of chronic pain and suicide, and estimate the contribution of chronic pain to suicidality.

METHOD: Data from the 2007 Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, a nationally representative household survey on 8841 people, aged 16-85 years, was analysed.

RESULTS: The odds of lifetime and past 12-month suicidality were two to three times greater in people with chronic pain. Sixty-five percent of people who attempted suicide in the past 12 months had a history of chronic pain. Chronic pain was independently associated with lifetime suicidality after controlling for demographic, mental health and substance use disorders.

CONCLUSIONS: Health care professionals need to be aware of the risk of suicidality in patients with chronic pain, even in the absence of mental health problems.

Language: en