Risk and protective factors for suicide among patients with methamphetamine dependence: a nested case-control study

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Addiction Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Methamphetamine dependence has surged globally since the 1990s.
• Understanding suicide risk factors in this population is crucial for prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify clinical characteristics associated with suicide mortality in methamphetamine-dependent patients.
• To inform clinical interventions and prevention strategies for this high-risk group.

Main Methods:

• A nested case-control study involving 1,480 inpatients with methamphetamine dependence.
• 38 suicide deaths (cases) and 76 matched controls were analyzed.
• Multivariate conditional logistic regression identified suicide correlates.

Main Results:

• Financial independence was a protective factor against suicide (ARR=0.33 at admission, ARR=0.11 post-discharge).
• Visual hallucinations (ARR=2.57) and prior suicide attempts (ARR=8.78) significantly increased suicide risk.
• Depressive syndrome was also associated with increased suicide risk (ARR=3.28).

Conclusions:

• Both protective and risk factors for suicide mortality exist in methamphetamine-dependent inpatients.
• Findings highlight the need for targeted interventions addressing financial stability, psychiatric symptoms, and history of self-harm.