Citation

Ilgen MA, Harris AH, Moos RH, Tiet QQ. Alcohol Clin. Exp. Res. 2007; 31(4): 635-642.

Affiliation

Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Health Care Evaluation, Palo Alto Health Care System and Stanford University School of Medicine, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1530-0277.2007.00348.x

PMID

17374043

Abstract

Background: The present study examined the patient intake and treatment-related risk factors associated with a suicide attempt in the 30 days before a 1-year posttreatment assessment. Methods: A national sample of 8,807 patients presenting for treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs) in the Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare system were assessed at treatment intake and follow-up. Using the MacArthur Model, the risk and protective factors for suicide attempt were identified at baseline and during treatment. Results: At follow-up, 4% (314/8,807) of the patients reported a suicide attempt within the past 30 days. Baseline predictors of a suicide attempt before follow-up included elevated suicidal/psychiatric symptoms, more recent problematic alcohol use, and longer duration of cocaine use. Contact with the criminal justice system was a protective factor that reduced the likelihood of a future suicide attempt. Greater engagement in SUD treatment was also associated with a reduction in suicide risk. Conclusions: More involvement in SUD treatment reduced the likelihood of a future suicide attempt in high-risk patients. Substance use disorder treatment providers interested in reducing future suicidal behavior may want to concentrate their efforts on identifying at-risk individuals and actively engaging these patients in longer treatment episodes.

Language: en