Arthritis Related to Suicide Attempts?

New researcher from the University of Toronto reveals that, according to the June 15, 2016 news release, “One in every 26 men with arthritis have attempted suicide compared to one in 50 men without arthritis. Women with arthritis also had a higher prevalence of lifetime suicide attempts than women without arthritis (5.3% vs 3.2%).”

“The study found that those with arthritis still had 46% higher odds of suicide attempts than those without arthritis even when adjustments were made for important factors such as age, income, chronic pain, and a history of mental health disorders.”

“When we focused on adults with arthritis, we found that those who had experienced chronic parental domestic violence or sexual abuse during their childhood, had more than three times the odds of suicide attempts compared to adults with arthritis who had not experienced these childhood adversities. The magnitude of these associations with suicide attempts was comparable to that associated with depression, the most well-known risk factor for suicide attempts, ” said lead author Esme Fuller-Thomson, Ph.D., Sandra Rotman Endowed Chair at University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work & Institute for Life Course & Aging.

“Other factors associated with suicide attempts among those with arthritis include a history of drug or alcohol dependence and/or anxiety disorders, ” reported co-author Natasha Ramzan, a recent MSW graduate of the University of Toronto. “In addition, those with arthritis who were younger, poorer and less educated also had higher odds of suicide attempts.”

Co-author and doctoral student, Stephanie Baird, cautions that “due to the cross-sectional nature of this survey we cannot establish causality. We do not know when the arthritis began nor when the suicide attempts occurred. It is possible that other factors that were not available in the survey may confound the relationship. For example, childhood poverty has been strongly linked to both the development of arthritis and suicide risk.”

Dr. Fuller-Thomson told OTW, “We were surprised that early adversities such as childhood sexual abuse and exposure to chronic parental domestic violence quadrupled the odds of suicide attempts among those with arthritis. These adversities were more powerful predictors of suicide attempts than well-known risk factors such as severe pain, substance abuse and anxiety disorders.

“Orthopedic surgeons and other health professionals need to be alert to signs of despair and suicidal plans among patients with arthritis, particularly among those who have a history of early adversity and mental illness, substance abuse and severe pain. Suicidal patients need to be referred to mental health services for effective preventive interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy.”