Risk factors of suicidal ideation and attempt in women with drug user spouses

Despite ample evidence of the presence of mental and psychological disorders observed in the family members of drug users, few studies have attempted to focus on suicidal behavior in women whose spouses are drug users.

This cross-sectional study focused on 131 women who had a drug user spouse. They had all been married for >2 years, with no mental or psychological disorders and no history of drug use prior to marriage. Drug use history after marriage, the extent and nature of physical and non-physical wife abuse, and any history of suicidal ideation and attempt in the past year were collected, in addition to data about anxiety and depression.

Our study showed that women who identified with a history of suicidal ideation and attempt were younger, had a shorter marital duration, had a more extensive history of drug use, were more likely to be abused by their spouse, and had higher anxiety and depression scores than their counterparts. Suicidal ideation predictors included a personal history of drug use [odds ratio (OR) = 9.217, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.727-49.180, p = 0.009] and anxiety and depression (OR = 1.080, 95% CI = 1.022-1.141, p = 0.004), whereas suicidal attempt predictors included a personal history of drug use (OR = 7.236, 95% CI = 1.671-31.326, p = 0.010), exposure to physical abuse by spouse (OR = 4.005, 95% CI = 1.393-11.523, p = 0.008), and anxiety and depression (OR = 1.092, 95% CI = 1.015-1.175, p = 0.018).

The findings of this study showed that a personal history of drug use, an elevated anxiety score, and depression and exposure to physical abuse by their spouse may act as predictors of suicidal ideation or attempt in women with a drug user spouse. These findings may serve to benefit and support healthcare systems, associated with ongoing efforts to develop preventive programs for suicidal behavior in this population.