Citation

Hintikka J, Kontula O, Saarinen P, Tanskanen A, Koskela K, Viinamäki H. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 1998; 98(6): 493-496.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Finland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9879793

Abstract

We studied the significance of debt as a risk factor for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in a nation-wide sample (n = 4868) of the Finnish general population. Those experiencing difficulties in repaying their debts more often than others (37 vs. 16%, P<0.001) had a probable minor mental disorder (GHQ-12 score > or =3). Nevertheless, difficulties in repaying debts were found to be a factor independently associated with suicidal ideation (OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.9-4.2). The clinical implication of these findings is that individuals experiencing difficulties in repaying their debts may require psychiatric evaluation as well as socio-economic counselling.

Language: en