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Published in: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction 1/2012

01-02-2012

Factors Associated with Recent Suicide Attempts in Clients Presenting for Addiction Treatment

Authors: Alexander Penney, Dwight Mazmanian, John Jamieson, Nancy Black

Published in: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction | Issue 1/2012

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Abstract

Factors associated with recent suicide attempts were examined in clients who sought treatment at an addictions facility between 2001 and 2008. Clients who reported being hospitalized for attempting suicide in the past year (n = 76) were compared to all other clients (n = 5914) on demographic, mental health, substance use, and problem gambling variables. Compared to all other clients, clients who attempted suicide were significantly less educated, and more likely to have major depressive disorder, a bipolar disorder, ADHD, a personality disorder, or a gambling problem. While mental health issues have long been linked with suicide, new research, such as the present study, continues to find associations between gambling and suicide. With the strong relationship between mood disorders and gambling, these findings support continued research into the possible connection between gambling and suicide.
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Metadata
Title
Factors Associated with Recent Suicide Attempts in Clients Presenting for Addiction Treatment
Authors
Alexander Penney
Dwight Mazmanian
John Jamieson
Nancy Black
Publication date
01-02-2012
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction / Issue 1/2012
Print ISSN: 1557-1874
Electronic ISSN: 1557-1882
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-010-9307-0

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