title: Attempted suicide among heroin users: 12-month outcomes from the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS).
abstract: A cohort of 495 heroin users, recruited for the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS), were re-interviewed at 12 months regarding suicide attempts over the follow-up period. The proportion who had attempted suicide in the 12 months since baseline was not significantly different from that reported in the 12 months preceding ATOS enrolment (12.2% versus 9.1%), and attempted suicide did not decline significantly in any of the index treatment groups. Among males, there was no significant reduction in attempted suicide (8.7% versus 8.1%). Among females, however, the proportion reporting an attempt declined significantly from 19.7 to 9.8%. Of those who reported suicidal ideation at baseline, 22.8% made an attempt over the follow-up period, as did 19.0% of those who had major depression. Large, and significant, declines in suicidal ideation (23.1% versus 6.9%) and major depression (25.5% versus 10.9%) occurred over the study period. Independent predictors of a suicide attempt over the follow-up period were: social isolation, having made an attempt in the preceding 12 months, suicidal ideation at baseline, a greater number of treatment episodes and higher levels of baseline polydrug use.
authors.affiliation: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Shane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Darke
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Maree
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Teesson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D003932:Heroin; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D003932:Heroin