Characteristics of opiate dependent patients who attempt suicide

Objective: To describe the characteristics of opiate dependent patients who attempt suicide. Method: Opiate dependent patients (DSM-IV criteria) who had (N = 105) or had not (N = 141) attempted suicide were compared for family history of suicide, childhood trauma, personality traits. and experience of comorbidity with cocaine and/or alcohol dependence, major depressive disorder, and physical disorder. Results: Significantly more opiate dependent patients who had attempted suicide were female (p <.0001) and unemployed (p <.0006). Patients who had attempted suicide reported significantly more family history of suicide and more childhood traumas scored significantly higher for introversion, hostility, and neuroticism; and had experienced significantly more comorbidity with lifetime cocaine and alcohol dependence, major depressive disorder, and current physical disorder (p <.05 for all). Conclusion: Suicidal behavior in opiate dependent patients may involve risk factors from the family, childhood. personality, psychiatric. and physical domains.