Prevalence of Suicidal Ideation and its Relationship with Depression and General Health Status of Patients Referred to Addiction Treatment Centers in Iran (2017)

Most people who commit suicide suffer from psychiatric disorders, especially depression and substance-related disorders. However, major psychiatric disorders are not the sole risk factor for suicide, and other reasons, such as physical illness, may also be considered as an important factor for suicide ideation. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of suicidal ideation and its relationship with depression and the general health status of patients referred to addiction treatment centers in Iran.

This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 689 patients referred to addiction treatment centers in Yazd, Khorasan Razavi, Mazandaran, Sistan and Baluchistan, Fars, East Azarbaijan, and Kermanshah Provinces who were undergoing maintenance treatment with methadone in 2017. In this multicenter study, the subjects were selected by two-stage sampling; in the first stage, seven provinces (clusters) were randomly selected, and in the second stage, the patients from the selected provinces were enrolled via convenience sampling. The instruments used in this study included the General Health Questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Beck Suicide Idea Scale.

Of 689 patients, 218 (31.6%) had suicidal ideation. 21.91% (151 cases) of subjects had history of attempted to suicide. There was a significant relationship between suicidal ideation, depression, and general health status and its dimensions including physical symptoms, anxiety and sleep disorders, social functioning, and depression (P<0.05).

Suicidal ideation is present in one-third of the people who refer to addiction treatment centers in Iran. Depression and poor general health are major contributors to suicidal ideation.