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Risk Factors for Suicidal Behavior Depend on Age for Veterans in the Pacific Islands
Author(s) -
Pitts Barbara L.,
Whealin Julia M.,
Kato Jackson
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/sltb.12376
Subject(s) - suicidal behavior , borderline personality disorder , psychiatry , mood , clinical psychology , posttraumatic stress , suicide prevention , psychology , medicine , poison control , medical emergency
We examined whether risk factors for suicidal behavior depend on age among military veterans in the Pacific Islands ( N = 29,595). For veterans under 54 years old, having a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, a drug use disorder, and having a service‐related disability predicted suicidal behavior. For veterans 54 years old or older, having a mood disorder predicted suicidal behavior. Having a history of suicidal behavior and a high number of VA health care visits were associated with suicidal behavior for both age groups. Our findings suggest that the predictive value of certain risk factors in veterans in the Pacific Islands may depend on age.