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Factors associated with suicidal ideation in the general population

Five-centre analysis from the ODIN study

University College Dublin, University Department of Psychiatry, Matermisericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

GRAHAM DUNN, PhD

Biostatistics Group, School of Epidemiology & Health Sciences, University of Manchester, UK

BRENDAN D. KELLY, MD, MRCPsych

University College Dublin, University Department of Psychiatry, Matermisericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

GAIL BIRKBECK, MA, Dip. Statistics

The Atlantic Philanthropies, Dublin, Ireland

ODD STEFAN DALGARD, MD, Dr Med.

Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division of Mental Health, Oslo, Norway

VILLE LEHTINEN, MD and SOHLAM BRITTA, PhD, RN

National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health (STAKES), Helsinki, Finland

JOSE LUIS AYUSO-MATEOS, MD

Hospital Universitario de le Princesa, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain

CHRISTOPHER DOWRICK, MD, CQSW, FRCGP, FFPHM

School of Population, Community & Behavioural Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK

Correspondence: Dr Patricia Casey, Department of Psychiatry, Matermisericordiae University Hospital, Eccles Street, Dublin 7, Ireland. Tel: +(0) 353 1 8032176; fax: +(0) 353 1 8309323; email: apsych{at}mater.ie

Declaration of interest None. Funding detailed in Acknowledgements.

Background Very few studies have examined the cross-national prevalence of suicidal ideation in the general population or variables associated with it.

Aims To examine the risk factors for suicidal ideas in the general population.

Method As part of a five-country two stage epidemiological study of depressive disorder (the ODIN study) a random sample of over 12 000 people were screened using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). There followed detailed analysis of item 9 of the BDI, which measured the severity of suicidal ideation.

Results Age, marriage, concern by others and severity of depressed mood independently increased or decreased the odds of suicidal ideation overall. An interaction between life events and social supports was identified, although this differed between men and women. Only concern by others and severity of depression were independently associated with serious suicidal ideation. The study does not allow for interpretation of the direction of the association.

Conclusions A number of social, clinical and demographic variables were independently associated with all suicidal ideation and with serious suicidal ideation. Longitudinal studies are required to confirm whether these are risk factors for or the result of suicidal ideation or have some other relationship.

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				P. Tyrer From the Editor's desk The British Journal of Psychiatry, December 1, 2007; 191(6): 578 - 578. [Full Text] [PDF]