Suicide Attempt History in Veterans Receiving Treatment for Gambling Disorder: Demographic and Psychiatric Associates

Veterans are at an elevated risk for suicide, with notably high suicide rates over recent years. Additionally, veterans are also at elevated risk for a variety of psychiatric and mental health comorbidities, one of them being gambling disorder (GD). However, limited research has examined the relationship between GD and suicidality among veteran populations. The present study links suicidality with GD including comorbid diagnoses, gambling preferences, gambling severity, and impulsivity in a sample of military veterans with GD.

This study was an archival analysis of data from 603 United States veterans who received inpatient treatment for GD at a Veterans Affairs Hospital between the years of 2010 and 2024. Gambling disorder and comorbid diagnoses were determined at intake through clinician interviews and assessment. The South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) and the Urgency, Premeditation, Perseverance, Sensation Seeking, and Positive Urgency Scale (UPPS-P) assessed gambling severity and impulsivity. Chi-squares, independent t-tests, and logistical regressions were conducted. Additional tests were conducted on a subset of 157 veterans for which suicide attempt reason was reported.

Suicide attempt history is extremely common in veterans receiving treatment for gambling disorder, with over 40% reporting such a history. Veterans who reported a past suicide attempt were more likely to be nonstrategic gamblers, to have a current psychiatric diagnosis, and to report greater levels of impulsivity. Women veterans were especially likely to report a suicide attempt history (60% of women in our sample). Lastly, veterans who reported their suicide attempt was related to gambling were more likely to be a strategic gambler, have greater gambling severity, and impulsivity.

Veterans with GD are particularly vulnerable to increased risk for suicidality and its associations. Our findings point to the importance of customizing treatment for veterans with GD to target these potential risk profiles (e.g., gambling preferences, heightened impulsivity facets, and comorbidities) and therefore decrease the risks of suicidality.