title: Suicide incidence and risk factors in an active duty US military population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to investigate and identify risk factors for suicide among all active duty members of the US military during 2005 or 2007.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study used a cross-sectional design and included the entire active duty military population. Study sample sizes were 2,064,183 for 2005 and 1,981,810 for 2007. Logistic regression models were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Suicide rates for all services increased during this period. Mental health diagnoses, mental health visits, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), sleep prescriptions, reduction in rank, enlisted rank, and separation or divorce were associated with suicides. Deployments to Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom were also associated with elevated odds ratios for all services in the 2007 population and for the Army in 2005.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Additional research needs to address the increasing rates of suicide in active duty personnel. This should include careful evaluation of suicide prevention programs and the possible increase in risk associated with SSRIs and other mental health drugs, as well as the possible impact of shorter deployments, age, mental health diagnoses, and relationship problems.
authors.affiliation: Tricare Management Activity, Falls Church, VA 22041, USA. Jeff307@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hyman
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ireland
authors.forename: Lucinda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frost
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cottrell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology