Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Aug 1;8(5):e150.
doi: 10.1192/bjo.2022.551.

Suicidal ideation and attempt and associated factors among patients with substance use disorder: institution-based cross-sectional study

Gebeyaw Molla Kassie  1 , Yohanes Mirekena Lemu  2 , Mengesha Srahbzu Biresaw  2 , Gebremeskel Mesafint Dessie  3 , Getaneh Tesfaye Tadesse  1 , Woredaw Minichil Gared  2 , Mesele Wonde Belay  2
Affiliations

Suicidal ideation and attempt and associated factors among patients with substance use disorder: institution-based cross-sectional study

Gebeyaw Molla Kassie et al. BJPsych Open. .

Abstract

Background: No published research in Ethiopia has examined the prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts and associated factors among patients with substance use disorder.

Aims: The main aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of suicidal ideation, suicide attempt and associated factors among patients with substance use disorders.

Method: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 5 May to 13 June 2019 in Addis Ababa. A total of 408 patients were identified using a systematic sampling technique. Data were collected through interviews using the suicidality module of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Data were entered into EpiData and analysed using SPSS. Logistic regression analyses were employed. Variables with P < 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant with 95% confidence intervals.

Results: Prevalence rates of suicidal ideation and attempt were found to be 39.5% and 18.6%, respectively. Family history of mental illness (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.60, 95% CI: 2.17, 5.97), comorbid mental illness (AOR = 3.61, 95% CI: 2.11, 6.16), perceived stigma related to substance misuse (AOR = 4.00, 95% CI: 2.26, 7.07) and alcohol use (AOR = 7.49, 95% CI: 1.99, 28.19) were associated with suicidal ideation. Being female (AOR = 2.46, 95% CI: 1.08, 5.70), family history of suicide (AOR = 3.08, 95% CI: 1.68, 5.64), comorbid mental illness (AOR = 4.09, 95% CI: 2.23, 7.49) and khat use (AOR = 3.73, 95% CI: 1.24, 11.17) were associated with suicide attempt.

Conclusions: The prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempt were both found to be high. In particular, patients who had a comorbid mental illness were at high risk of both suicidal ideation and attempt. Therefore, special attention should be given to those with a family history of suicide or comorbid mental illness.

Keywords: Ethiopia; Suicidal behaviour; substance use disorder.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. López-Goñi JJ, Fernández-Montalvo J, Arteaga A, Haro B. Suicidal ideation and attempts in patients who seek treatment for substance use disorder. J Psychiatry Res 2018; 269: 542–8. - PubMed
    1. Wilcox HC, Conner KR, Caine ED. Association of alcohol and drug use disorders and completed suicide: an empirical review of cohort studies. Drug Alcohol Depend 2004; 76: S11–9. - PubMed
    1. Landheim A, Bakken K, Vaglum P. What characterizes substance abusers who commit suicide attempts? Factors related to axis I disorders and patterns of substance use disorders. Eur Addict Res 2006; 12(2): 102–8. - PubMed
    1. Guvendeger Doksat N, Zahmacioglu O, Ciftci Demirci A, Kocaman GM, Erdogan A. Association of suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-injury behaviors with substance use and family characteristics among children and adolescents seeking treatment for substance use disorder. Subst Use Misuse 2017; 52(5): 604–13. - PubMed
    1. Darke S, Ross J, Lynskey M, Teesson M. Attempted suicide among entrants to three treatment modalities for heroin dependence in the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS): prevalence and risk factors. J Drug Alcohol Depend 2004; 73(1): 1–10. - PubMed