OBJECTIVE: We sought to describe the rate, risk, trends, methods, and distribution of suicide among persons with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the United States. DESIGN: We used National Center for Health Statistics multiple-cause mortality data from 1987 through 1989 to identify suicides among persons with AIDS (PWAs) and public-access AIDS surveillance data to determine person-years of observation of PWAs. PATIENTS: Residents of the United States with death certificates indicating suicide. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Death certificates indicating both AIDS and suicide. RESULTS: In 1987 through 1989, a total of 165 suicides among PWAs occurred in 45 states and the District of Columbia. All but one case were male. Among males the rate was 165 per 100,000 person-years of observation, 7.4-fold higher than among demographically similar men in the general population. Self-poisoning with drugs was both the most common method (35%) and the method with the highest standardized mortality ratio (35). Suicide risk for PWAs decreased significantly (P < .05) from 1987 to 1989. CONCLUSION: Persons with AIDS have an increased risk of suicide, and assessment of such risk should be a standard practice in their care. These assessments should be carefully considered when potentially lethal medications are prescribed. The declining trend in suicide rates between 1987 and 1989 is encouraging; possible causes include emerging therapies for human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS, better psychiatric care for these patients, and lessened social stigma against PWAs.
OBJECTIVE: We sought to describe the rate, risk, trends, methods, and distribution of suicide among persons with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the United States. DESIGN: We used National Center for Health Statistics multiple-cause mortality data from 1987 through 1989 to identify suicides among persons with AIDS (PWAs) and public-access AIDS surveillance data to determine person-years of observation of PWAs. PATIENTS: Residents of the United States with death certificates indicating suicide. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Death certificates indicating both AIDS and suicide. RESULTS: In 1987 through 1989, a total of 165 suicides among PWAs occurred in 45 states and the District of Columbia. All but one case were male. Among males the rate was 165 per 100,000 person-years of observation, 7.4-fold higher than among demographically similar men in the general population. Self-poisoning with drugs was both the most common method (35%) and the method with the highest standardized mortality ratio (35). Suicide risk for PWAs decreased significantly (P < .05) from 1987 to 1989. CONCLUSION:Persons with AIDS have an increased risk of suicide, and assessment of such risk should be a standard practice in their care. These assessments should be carefully considered when potentially lethal medications are prescribed. The declining trend in suicide rates between 1987 and 1989 is encouraging; possible causes include emerging therapies for human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS, better psychiatric care for these patients, and lessened social stigma against PWAs.
Authors: Jayraan Badiee; David J Moore; J Hampton Atkinson; Florin Vaida; Mickey Gerard; Nichole A Duarte; Donald Franklin; Ben Gouaux; J Allen McCutchan; Robert K Heaton; Justin McArthur; Susan Morgello; David Simpson; Ann Collier; Christina M Marra; Benjamin Gelman; David Clifford; Igor Grant Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2011-07-23 Impact factor: 4.839
Authors: Jasmine Gurm; Hasina Samji; Adriana Nophal; Erin Ding; Verena Strehlau; Julia Zhu; Julio S G Montaner; Robert S Hogg; Silvia Guillemi Journal: CMAJ Open Date: 2015-04-02
Authors: Bibilola Damilola Oladeji; Babafemi Taiwo; Olushola Mosuro; Samuel A Fayemiwo; Taiwo Abiona; Angela J Fought; Kevin Robertson; Adesola Ogunniyi; Isaac F Adewole Journal: J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care Date: 2015-11-19