Is Chronic Illness Linked to Increased Suicidal Behavior?

A recent study showed that the risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors is higher among adolescents and young adults with chronic illness, particularly among those with both chronic illness and a mood disorder.

For their study, the researchers assessed 5248 patients ages 15 to 30 years who were enrolled in the Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health. They measured the 12-month prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, as well as psychiatric disorders, via the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0.
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Associations between chronic illness and suicidal thoughts and behaviors were assessed using multinomial logistic regression, and results were adjusted for relevant sociodemographic and health characteristics. To investigate potential moderating effects, any product term interactions among chronic illness, mood, and substance use disorders were included in the regression models.

Following adjustment, results indicated that the incidence of suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts was higher among individuals with chronic illness vs those without chronic illness.

Furthermore, the risk for suicidal thoughts was found to be higher among individuals with both chronic illness and a mood disorder, as compared to individuals with chronic illness without a mood disorder.

“Suicidal thoughts and behaviors are common among adolescents and young adults with chronic illness, particularly among those with comorbid mood disorders,” the researchers concluded. “Health professionals should routinely ask about [suicidal thoughts and behaviors] during assessments of their adolescent and young adult patients.”

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Ferro MA, Rhodes AE, Kimber M, et al. Suicidal behaviour among adolescents and young adults with self-reported chronic illness [Published online August 17, 2017]. Can J Psychiatry. doi:10.1177/0706743717727242.