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Cited by 304Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesOpioid Use Disorder TreatmentMusculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation

Chronic Pain Conditions and Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempts: An Epidemiologic Perspective

Ratcliffe, Gregory E., Enns, Murray W., Belik, Shay-Lee, Sareen, Jitender·2008·The Clinical Journal of Pain
DOI 10.1097/ajp.0b013e31815ca2a3
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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Investigations of the association between chronic pain conditions and suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempts (SA) have rarely taken the effect of mental disorders into account and have been limited by nonrepresentative samples. The present study used a large population-based sample to investigate the association between chronic pain conditions and SI and SA. METHODS: Data were from the Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 1.2 public use file conducted by Statistics Canada from 2001 to 2002 (N=36,984; response rate 77%). Respondents were asked if they had been diagnosed with the following painful conditions: migraine, back problems, arthritis, and fibromyalgia. Respondents were assessed for past 12-month SI and SA. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used to assess Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV. RESULTS: After adjusting for sociodemographics, Axis I mental disorders and comorbidity (3 or more mental disorders), the presence of 1 or more chronic pain conditions was associated with both SI and SA. Among respondents with a mental disorder, comorbidity with 1 or more chronic pain conditions was also associated with SI and SA. In models adjusting for other painful conditions, migraine had the strongest link with SI and SA. DISCUSSION: This is the first study to demonstrate the association between several chronic pain conditions and SI and SA while adjusting for mental disorders in a nationally representative sample. Moreover, this study demonstrates that among individuals with a mental disorder, having a chronic pain condition significantly increased the association with SI and SA.

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  • Even after controlling for psychiatric comorbidity, the presence of any pain condition was associated with increased risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts, and this relationship was particularly strong for migraines and back pain.

    “The authors found that, even after controlling for psychiatric comorbidity, the presence of any pain condition was associated with increased risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts, and that this relationship was particularly strong for migraines and back pain.”

    From <p>Pain and Evil: From Local Nociception to Misery Following Social Harm</p> (2020) · cites this paper as [90]

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Authors
Ratcliffe, G. E., Enns, M. W., Belik, S.-L., & Sareen, J.
Affiliations
University of Manitoba (CA)
Corresponding author
  • Ratcliffe, Gregory E.
  • Enns, Murray W.
  • Belik, Shay-Lee
  • Sareen, Jitender
ORCID
Venue
The Clinical Journal of Pain
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Published
2008-03
Volume
24
Issue
3
Pages
204-210
ISSN
0749-8047 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1097/ajp.0b013e31815ca2a3
OpenAlex
W2024091829
Cited by
304
References
55
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 25 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 17
FWCI
19.30
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Clinical Journal of Pain (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
Keywords
chronic pain, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, migraine, fibromyalgia, back problems, arthritis, mental illness, comorbidities, psychiatric comorbidity, population survey
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Mental Disorders, Chronic Disease, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Interview, Psychological, Male, Middle Aged, Pain, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Suicide, Attempted, Prevalence, Logistic Models, Epidemiologic Studies, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

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