Citation

Lee WC, Fang SC, Chen YY, Liu HC, Huang MC, McKetin R. Addict. Behav. 2021; 123: e107060.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107060

PMID

34343924

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Methamphetamine (METH) use and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) has been associated with an increased risk of suicidal behaviour. However, whether METH use underlies the risk of suicide attributable to ACEs is unknown and warrants investigation to inform preventive interventions. In this study, we examined the mediating role of METH use in the relationship between attempted suicide and ACEs.
METHOD: METH users recruited from a mandatory detoxification center (n = 346) and healthy controls (n = 342) both completed a survey related to 9 types of ACE, which was based the Family Health Questionnaire. A lifetime history of attempted suicide was obtained using the Chinese version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. We conducted a bootstrapped mediation analysis to examine the mediating effect of METH use on the association between ACEs and attempted suicide.
RESULTS: Female gender, METH use, and having multiple (≥3) ACEs were associated with an increased risk of attempted suicide. A dose-response relationship between the number of ACEs and suicide rate was observed among individuals with METH use. METH use significantly mediated the association between ACEs and attempted suicide in those with multiple (2 and 3 ACEs respectively with proportion mediated 0.16 and 0.42) and specific types of ACEs (physical abuse, witnessing maternal battering, household substance abuse, sexual abuse, and parental separation with proportion mediated 0.25, 0.35, 0.38, 0.48, 0.47 respectively).
CONCLUSION: Our study is the first to demonstrate that METH use partially mediates the association between ACEs and attempted suicide. Addressing METH use in people with ACEs could reduce their suicide risk.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Risk Factors; Child; Female; Suicide; Suicidal Ideation; Suicide, Attempted; Methamphetamine; Child Abuse; Adverse childhood experience; Mediating effect; Adverse Childhood Experiences