title: Debt and suicidal behaviour in the Finnish general population.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hintikka
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kontula
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saarinen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanskanen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koskela
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Viinamäki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016361:Bankruptcy; D003376:Counseling; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*