Hilary S Connery1, Roger D Weiss2, Margaret L Griffin2, Catherine D Trinh3, Jungjin Kim2, Ian R H Rockett4, R Kathryn McHugh2. 1. McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: hconnery@mclean.harvard.edu. 2. McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA. 3. McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA. 4. Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Several studies suggest suicidal motivation may contribute to opioid overdose fatalities in people with opioid use disorder. In this study, we sought to replicate and extend prior findings suggesting that a desire to die is common prior to nonfatal opioid overdose in people with opioid use disorder. METHODS: Adults receiving inpatient detoxification and stabilization who reported a history of opioid overdose (N = 60) completed questions about suicidal cognition prior to their most recent overdose. RESULTS: Approximately 45% reported some desire to die prior to their most recent overdose, with 20% reporting they had some intention to die. The correlation between these ratings was of a moderate magnitude (ρ = 0.58). Almost 40% of the sample perceived no risk of overdose prior to their most recent overdose event, suggesting a significant underestimation of risk in this population. CONCLUSIONS: Desire to die was common in adults with opioid use disorder prior to nonfatal opioid overdose events, and 1 in 5 people with a history of opioid overdose reported intention to die prior to their most recent opioid overdose. Careful assessment of suicidal cognition in this population may improve prevention of opioid overdose deaths.
BACKGROUND: Several studies suggest suicidal motivation may contribute to opioid overdose fatalities in people with opioid use disorder. In this study, we sought to replicate and extend prior findings suggesting that a desire to die is common prior to nonfatal opioid overdose in people with opioid use disorder. METHODS: Adults receiving inpatient detoxification and stabilization who reported a history of opioid overdose (N = 60) completed questions about suicidal cognition prior to their most recent overdose. RESULTS: Approximately 45% reported some desire to die prior to their most recent overdose, with 20% reporting they had some intention to die. The correlation between these ratings was of a moderate magnitude (ρ = 0.58). Almost 40% of the sample perceived no risk of overdose prior to their most recent overdose event, suggesting a significant underestimation of risk in this population. CONCLUSIONS: Desire to die was common in adults with opioid use disorder prior to nonfatal opioid overdose events, and 1 in 5 people with a history of opioid overdose reported intention to die prior to their most recent opioid overdose. Careful assessment of suicidal cognition in this population may improve prevention of opioid overdose deaths.
Authors: Yasmina Molero; Johan Zetterqvist; Ingrid A Binswanger; Clara Hellner; Henrik Larsson; Seena Fazel Journal: Am J Psychiatry Date: 2018-08-02 Impact factor: 18.112
Authors: Matthew K Nock; Alexander J Millner; Thomas E Joiner; Peter M Gutierrez; Georges Han; Irving Hwang; Andrew King; James A Naifeh; Nancy A Sampson; Alan M Zaslavsky; Murray B Stein; Robert J Ursano; Ronald C Kessler Journal: J Abnorm Psychol Date: 2018-02
Authors: Rachel E Gicquelais; Mary Jannausch; Amy S B Bohnert; Laura Thomas; Srijan Sen; Anne C Fernandez Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2020-05-16 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Hilary S Connery; Nadine Taghian; Jungjin Kim; Margaret Griffin; Ian R H Rockett; Roger D Weiss; R Kathryn McHugh Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2019-10-05 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Ian R H Rockett; Eric D Caine; Hilary S Connery; Gail D'Onofrio; David J Gunnell; Ted R Miller; Kurt B Nolte; Mark S Kaplan; Nestor D Kapusta; Christa L Lilly; Lewis S Nelson; Sandra L Putnam; Steven Stack; Peeter Värnik; Lynn R Webster; Haomiao Jia Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-01-10 Impact factor: 3.240