The temporal association between suicide and comorbid mental disorders in people treated for substance use disorders: a National registry study

Abstract Background The time after contact with specialized health services for mental health and substance use is associated with an increased risk of suicide, where temporal aspects of suicide and comorbid mental disorders in patients with substance use disorders could be associated. This study ai...

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Main Authors: Martin Ø. Myhre, Fredrik A. Walby, Jørgen G. Bramness, Lars Mehlum
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023-10-01
Series:Addiction Science & Clinical Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-023-00415-9
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author Martin Ø. Myhre
Fredrik A. Walby
Jørgen G. Bramness
Lars Mehlum
author_facet Martin Ø. Myhre
Fredrik A. Walby
Jørgen G. Bramness
Lars Mehlum
author_sort Martin Ø. Myhre
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The time after contact with specialized health services for mental health and substance use is associated with an increased risk of suicide, where temporal aspects of suicide and comorbid mental disorders in patients with substance use disorders could be associated. This study aimed to examine the temporal association between time from last treatment contact to suicide and comorbid mental disorders in patients with substance use disorders. Methods This study is a historical prospective case series using nationwide registry data. It included 946 individuals registered the year before suicide with a substance use disorder (F10-F19) in Norway's specialized health services for treating substance use and mental health disorders between 2010 and 2020. The outcome was the number of weeks from the last contact with services to suicide. The exposure was comorbid mental disorders divided into 'no comorbid mental disorder’; ‘psychosis or bipolar disorders’ (F20−F31), ‘depressive or anxiety disorders' (F32−F49); and 'personality disorders' (F60-F69). Covariates included gender, age, last diagnosed substance use disorder, registered deliberate self-harm last year, and the number of in- and outpatient contacts the previous year. Results The number of weeks from last service contact to suicide differed (p =  < 0.001) between patients with no comorbid mental disorders (Median = 7; IQR 2–23), psychosis or bipolar disorders (Median = 2; IQR = 1–7), depressive or anxiety disorders (Median = 3; IQR = 1–11) and personality disorders (Median = 1; IQR = 1–5.5). Significantly decreased adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRR) were found for psychosis or bipolar disorders [aIRR = 0.67 (95% CI 0.53–0.85)] and personality disorders [aIRR = 0.56 (0.42–0.77)] compared to no comorbid mental disorder when adjusted for individual characteristics and service contact. For depressive and anxiety disorders compared to no comorbid mental disorder, the association was significant when adjusted for individual characteristics [aIRR = 0.55 (0.46–0.66)]. Conclusions While patients with substance use disorders generally died by suicide a short time after contact with services, patients with comorbid mental disorders died an even shorter time after such contact and significantly shorter than patients without such comorbidities.
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spelling doaj.art-69957f29e4be4ff3972dae6140f5017d2023-11-26T13:56:06ZengBMCAddiction Science & Clinical Practice1940-06402023-10-011811910.1186/s13722-023-00415-9The temporal association between suicide and comorbid mental disorders in people treated for substance use disorders: a National registry studyMartin Ø. Myhre0Fredrik A. Walby1Jørgen G. Bramness2Lars Mehlum3National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, Institute for Clinical Medicine, University of OsloNational Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, Institute for Clinical Medicine, University of OsloDepartment of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs, Norwegian Institute of Public HealthNational Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, Institute for Clinical Medicine, University of OsloAbstract Background The time after contact with specialized health services for mental health and substance use is associated with an increased risk of suicide, where temporal aspects of suicide and comorbid mental disorders in patients with substance use disorders could be associated. This study aimed to examine the temporal association between time from last treatment contact to suicide and comorbid mental disorders in patients with substance use disorders. Methods This study is a historical prospective case series using nationwide registry data. It included 946 individuals registered the year before suicide with a substance use disorder (F10-F19) in Norway's specialized health services for treating substance use and mental health disorders between 2010 and 2020. The outcome was the number of weeks from the last contact with services to suicide. The exposure was comorbid mental disorders divided into 'no comorbid mental disorder’; ‘psychosis or bipolar disorders’ (F20−F31), ‘depressive or anxiety disorders' (F32−F49); and 'personality disorders' (F60-F69). Covariates included gender, age, last diagnosed substance use disorder, registered deliberate self-harm last year, and the number of in- and outpatient contacts the previous year. Results The number of weeks from last service contact to suicide differed (p =  < 0.001) between patients with no comorbid mental disorders (Median = 7; IQR 2–23), psychosis or bipolar disorders (Median = 2; IQR = 1–7), depressive or anxiety disorders (Median = 3; IQR = 1–11) and personality disorders (Median = 1; IQR = 1–5.5). Significantly decreased adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRR) were found for psychosis or bipolar disorders [aIRR = 0.67 (95% CI 0.53–0.85)] and personality disorders [aIRR = 0.56 (0.42–0.77)] compared to no comorbid mental disorder when adjusted for individual characteristics and service contact. For depressive and anxiety disorders compared to no comorbid mental disorder, the association was significant when adjusted for individual characteristics [aIRR = 0.55 (0.46–0.66)]. Conclusions While patients with substance use disorders generally died by suicide a short time after contact with services, patients with comorbid mental disorders died an even shorter time after such contact and significantly shorter than patients without such comorbidities.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-023-00415-9SuicideSubstance use disordersComorbid mental disordersSUD servicesMental health services
spellingShingle Martin Ø. Myhre
Fredrik A. Walby
Jørgen G. Bramness
Lars Mehlum
The temporal association between suicide and comorbid mental disorders in people treated for substance use disorders: a National registry study
Addiction Science & Clinical Practice
Suicide
Substance use disorders
Comorbid mental disorders
SUD services
Mental health services
title The temporal association between suicide and comorbid mental disorders in people treated for substance use disorders: a National registry study
title_full The temporal association between suicide and comorbid mental disorders in people treated for substance use disorders: a National registry study
title_fullStr The temporal association between suicide and comorbid mental disorders in people treated for substance use disorders: a National registry study
title_full_unstemmed The temporal association between suicide and comorbid mental disorders in people treated for substance use disorders: a National registry study
title_short The temporal association between suicide and comorbid mental disorders in people treated for substance use disorders: a National registry study
title_sort temporal association between suicide and comorbid mental disorders in people treated for substance use disorders a national registry study
topic Suicide
Substance use disorders
Comorbid mental disorders
SUD services
Mental health services
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-023-00415-9
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