Citation

Nicolas C, Séguin M, DiMambro M, Desrumaux P. Ann. Med. Psychol. (Paris) 2016; 174(7): 544-550.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Societe Medico-Psychologique, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.amp.2014.08.023

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Over 900,000 people die by suicide every year around the world. Suicide has been described as being a multidimensional act, resulting from a number of risk factors accumulating throughout the life course. Recently, in France, some authors have suggested that work environment is a major or a unique risk factor in the etiology of suicide death. This theoretical position is in contradiction with empirical and epidemiologic evidence.

OBJECTIVE On the base of data from life trajectories, we studied to which extent work difficulties may contribute to a burden of adversity, which contribute to suicidal vulnerability.

METHOD Two groups of participants (n = 84) were compared. Half (n = 42) were suicide victims who were compared to (n = 42) living controls. The individuals from the suicide group were employed at the moment of death and the living controls were employed at the moment of the study. Characteristics of participants were compared in regards to life trajectories (love relationships, social interactions, professional difficulties), past suicide attempts and psychiatric diagnosis. Data were collected according to a psychological autopsy and life calendar methods.

RESULTS Significantly more mental health disorders on axis I (DSM-IV), especially mood and substances disorders as well as disorders on axis II (especially Cluster C) were observed among deceased participants. Moreover, comorbid mental health disorders and past suicide attempts over the life course were significantly more prevalent among participants deceased by suicide. No significant differences are observed between groups concerning adversities in love relationships and social interactions. However, participants from the control group had significantly more adversities in professional domain over the life course and during the last 5 years.

CONCLUSION Work difficulties are not a robust or direct risk factor of suicide, but psychiatric disorders are. These results are in contradiction with opinions of a debate in France concerning a direct link between work and suicides and should foster new debate. Application should promote the development of suicide prevention programs in work environments by focusing on protection and promotion the psychological health of workers. © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS

Language: en

Keywords

Prevention; human; social interaction; suicide; Suicide; autopsy; Risk factor; France; suicide attempt; comorbidity; mood disorder; risk factor; substance abuse; Psychiatric disorder; comparative study; major clinical study; mental disease; controlled study; psychological aspect; disease association; psychiatric diagnosis; work disability; work environment; DSM-IV; Article; illness trajectory; Professionnal environment; Retrospective survey