Suicide and attempted suicide in gambling disorder - results from a nationwide case-control study

Gambling disorder severely impacts the affected individual's daily life and is considered to be a major public health issue. Gambling disorder may be a risk factor for suicidal behavior, but matched case-control studies are few. This study aims to explore suicidal behavior, and risk factors for it, among patients with GD in comparison with age- and gender-matched controls.

This is a nationwide age- and gender-matched case-control study, based on all cases of gambling disorder diagnosed in Swedish specialist health care between 2005-2019. Suicidal behavior was defined as either fatal suicides or suicide attempts. Comparative statistics and multiple logistic regressions on risk factors for suicidal behavior were performed.

The population consisted of 10,782 individuals (78 % were men), including 3594 with gambling disorder, with an average follow-up of 4.6 years. In the gambling disorder group, 17.7 % displayed suicidal behavior, in comparison to 1.6 % of controls. Multiple logistic regression indicated a risk increase for suicidal behavior if diagnosed with gambling disorder, substance use disorders, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and female gender. Psychiatric comorbidity in the gambling disorder group consisted of anxiety disorders (44 %), depressive disorders (38 %) and substance use disorders (33 %).

Suicidal behavior is elevated among individuals with gambling disorder, compared to matched controls. Findings call for further research in order to explore mechanisms and prevent suicidal behavior among patients with gambling disorder.