Suicide and traumatic brain injury among individuals seeking Veterans Health Administration services

J Head Trauma Rehabil. 2011 Jul-Aug;26(4):257-64. doi: 10.1097/HTR.0b013e31821fdb6e.

Abstract

Objective: To examine associations between history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) diagnosis and death by suicide among individuals receiving care within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

Method: Individuals who received care between fiscal years 2001 to 2006 were included in analyses. Cox proportional hazards survival models for time to suicide, with time-dependent covariates, were utilized. Covariance sandwich estimators were used to adjust for the clustered nature of the data, with patients nested within VHA facilities. Analyses included all patients with a history of TBI (n = 49626) plus a 5% random sample of patients without TBI (n = 389053). Of those with a history of TBI, 105 died by suicide. Models were adjusted for demographic and psychiatric covariates.

Results: Veterans with a history of TBI were 1.55 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24-1.92) times more likely to die by suicide than those without a history of TBI. Analyses by TBI severity were also conducted, and they suggested that in comparison to those without an injury history, those with (1) concussion/cranial fracture were 1.98 times more likely (95% CI, 1.39-2.82) to die by suicide and (2) cerebral contusion/traumatic intracranial hemorrhage were 1.34 times more likely (95% CI, 1.09-1.64) to die by suicide. This increased risk was not explained by the presence of psychiatric disorders or demographic factors.

Conclusions: Among VHA users, those with a diagnosis of TBI were at greater risk for suicide than those without this diagnosis. Further research is indicated to identify evidence-based means of assessment and treatment for those with TBI and suicidal behavior.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Brain Injuries / epidemiology*
  • Brain Injuries / psychology
  • Cause of Death*
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Suicide / psychology
  • Suicide / statistics & numerical data*
  • Survival Analysis
  • United States / epidemiology
  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs / statistics & numerical data*
  • Veterans / psychology
  • Veterans / statistics & numerical data