The association between violence and lifetime suicidal thoughts and behaviors in individuals treated for substance use disorders.
OBJECTIVE
The present study examined the association between lifetime violent behavior and suicidal thoughts and attempts in a national sample of patients seeking substance use disorder (SUD) treatment.


METHODS
A large national sample of adults entering substance use disorder treatment (N=6,233) was examined. After describing the correlates of prior suicidal thoughts and attempt(s) in this sample, we examined the association between self-report of lifetime violence and suicidal ideation, a single prior attempt and multiple prior attempts in patients seeking SUD treatment.


RESULTS
In bivariate analyses, individuals with prior violence were more likely to report suicidal ideation, single and multiple suicide attempts than those without prior violence. These associations remained significant after controlling for demographic factors, symptoms of depression, and childhood victimization. In examinations of specific types of violence, more extreme forms of violence (i.e., murder, rape) were most strongly associated with risk of multiple suicide attempts.


CONCLUSIONS
Prior violence is consistently associated with greater risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors in patients seeking SUD treatment. Treatment providers should be aware that those patients with some of the greatest violence in their past are also those at elevated risk for harm to themselves.
Department of Veterans Affairs, Health Services Research & Development, 2215 Fuller Road (11H), Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA. marki@umich.edu
Mark A
MA
Ilgen
Mandi L
ML
Burnette
Kenneth R
KR
Conner
Ewa
E
Czyz
Regan
R
Murray
Stephen
S
Chermack
D000328:Adult; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data